The month of May of every year is declared "Water Safety Awareness Month" in South Carolina to promote an understanding of water safety practices and the critical importance of water safety in an effort to reduce drowning deaths among children in this State.
HISTORY: 2016 Act No. 180 (H.5218), Section 1, eff May 23, 2016.
Editor's Note
2016 Act No. 180, preamble, provides as follows:
"Whereas, drowning ranks as one of the leading causes of death in our nation; and
"Whereas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, from 2005 to 2009, there was an average of three thousand five hundred fifty-three unintentional drownings (nonboating related) in the United States, an average of ten deaths per day; and
"Whereas, children aged five to fourteen most often drown in swimming pools and open water such as rivers, lakes, dams, and canals; and
"Whereas, a swimming pool is fourteen times more likely than a motor vehicle to be involved in the death of a child aged four and under; and
"Whereas, understanding the precious gift South Carolina children are to the future of this State, the General Assembly seeks to bring awareness of the importance of water safety by designating the month of May as 'Water Safety Awareness Month'."