Photo: Barry Goldwater Jr. Emma Linquist, Casey McGovern, Representative Matt Gress (Arizona)
Fort Lauderdale, FL — The Every Child a Swimmer program proudly announces the successful passage of its life-saving water safety legislation in Arizona and New Mexico, with each state’s governor officially signing the bills into law. These states join Florida, Georgia, Arkansas, and Washington State in adopting this critical initiative aimed at protecting children from drowning and promoting water safety education.
The Every Child a Swimmer legislation is designed to educate parents and guardians about the importance of teaching children how to swim and practicing water safety measures. By ensuring that families receive this essential information, the legislation empowers communities to prevent drowning tragedies.
“Drowning is a leading cause of accidental death for children, and education is our strongest tool in preventing these heartbreaking losses,” said Casey McGovern, Executive Director of the Every Child a Swimmer program. “We are thrilled to see Arizona and New Mexico take this significant step in prioritizing the safety of their children.”
The legislation requires that parents are provided with water safety information when enrolling their children in schools, raising awareness about the importance of swimming lessons, supervision, and other safety measures.
Every Child a Swimmer Legislation: States Passed
- Florida
- Georgia
- Arkansas
- Washington State
- Arizona (New)
- New Mexico (New)
The Every Child a Swimmer program, a division of the International Swimming Hall of Fame, is on a mission to ensure that every child has access to life-saving water safety education and essential swimming skills. Through its learn-to-swim scholarship program, ECAS provides critical support to underserved communities, guaranteeing that each scholarship recipient learns how to safely exit the water without assistance. In 2024 alone, the program awarded an impressive $632,000 in learn-to-swim scholarships through its network of 300+ trusted swim school partners.
Pictures from left to right:
- Representative Sanchez, Casey McGovern, Marco Serna (New Mexico)
- Casey McGovern testifying on behalf of HB-2019 Arizona
For more information about the Every Child a Swimmer program and how you can support its mission, please visit www.everychildaswimmer.org or contact Casey McGovern at Casey@everychildaswimmer.org.
Media Contact: Casey McGovern Executive Director, Every Child a Swimmer [Phone 954-275-9035] [Email: Casey@everychildaswimmer.org]