NEW YORK WATER SAFETY COALITION In November 2020, as the threat of another pandemicrelated shutdown loomed across the Northeast, several swim schools in the New York State area banded together to form the New York Water Safety Coalition. Our stated mission: to increase access to aquatic facilities and swim instruction - allowing us to provide our essential service of drowning prevention.
There has been a troubling increase in drownings over the last year, due in part to the widespread shutdown of swimming programs during our nationwide lockdowns. Coupled with the incredibly low rates of COVID-19 transmission at swimming pools, we felt that swim schools in particular were being subjected to unnecessary – and indeed, destructive – governmental restrictions. While well-intentioned, a strong argument can be made that these restrictions have actually increased the overall threat to public health. Data suggests that closing pools does very little to stop the spread of COVID-19, however, these closures likely increase drowning rates by reducing access to professional swim lessons. We feel it is essential to allow our members to continue teaching the life-saving skill of swimming. Our Coalition faces a daunting task: Cutting through the fear and getting the facts about COVID-19 transmission around swimming pools, and the increased risk of drownings, into the hands of the decision makers in state government. We benefited greatly 26 | USSWIMSCHOOLS.ORG
BY BRENDAN O’MELVENY FOUNDER, NEW YORK WATER SAFETY COALITION; CHIEF AQUATICS OFFICER, IMAGINE SWIMMING, INC.
