Media Contact: Mike Sagara
(520) 403-7408 | aznmmedia@redcross.org

[TUCSON, ARIZ,  MAY 14, 2026] — May is National Water Safety Month, a time to remind families that drowning is preventable, yet it remains one of the leading causes of death for young children and people under 30.

Drowning rarely looks the way it does in the movies. Most people expect splashing or yelling—but drowning is often silent and can happen in less than a minute, even in just a few inches of water.

Bystanders are often the first line of defense. Research shows drowning victims are most often rescued by people nearby, not trained professionals, simply because they are closest to the incident. More than 60% of bystander rescues happen before help arrives.

“Everyone near water plays a role in keeping people safe,” said Courtney Slanaker, Executive Director. “Whether it’s a child, a friend, or a stranger, you may be the only person in a position to recognize distress and respond.”

The American Red Cross urges families to stay actively engaged around water. Don’t just swim—watch. Close, constant supervision can make the difference between life and death.

WATER SAFETY TIPS

• Nobody should ever swim alone – adults and teens as well as children. Never leave a young child unattended near water, and do not trust a child’s life to another child.
• Always designate a “water watcher” who will keep a close eye and constant attention on children and weaker swimmers in, on and around water until the next water watcher takes over.
• Have young children or inexperienced swimmers wear properly fitted U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets around water, but do not rely on life jackets alone.
• Reach or throw, don't go! In the event of an emergency, reach or throw an object to the person in trouble and tell them to grab on. Don’t go in! You could be in danger of drowning yourself.

WHALE TALES FOR CHILDREN – NOW AVAILABLE IN SPANISH The Red Cross recently revamped its Longfellow’s WHALE Tales Water Safety for Children program and has now added the program in Spanish, completely translated and localized. The no-cost program helps children, from all backgrounds in kindergarten through 5th grade, learn vital water safety behaviors without having to be in or near the water.

Educators, swim instructors, parents, caregivers and others can teach critical water safety lessons to children before the swim season kicks off and throughout the summer. WHALE Tales are short, engaging and age-appropriate lessons that cover important water safety topics in different environments such as pools, waterparks, oceans, lakes and rivers. The free downloadable resources include lesson plans, course presentations and engaging materials such as videos and activity sheets and can be accessed at redcross.org/WHALEtales. If you’re a parent or caregiver teaching your own children, visit redcross.org/watersafetyforkids.

GET STARTED TODAY Go to redcross.org/watersafety for swim program information and a variety of resources. The Red Cross Swim app can help children and adults learn with kid-friendly video and activities on mobile devices. Do your part. Be “water smart.”

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.