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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Illinois is contiguous to the largest body of 
3freshwater on the planet and contains 2,900 lakes, 84,000 
4ponds, and 106,940 miles of streams as well as 880 miles of 
5rivers along its borders; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Drowning is the number one cause of unintentional 
7deaths for children one to four years of age, and 54% of adult 
8Americans can not swim well enough to save themselves in an 
9emergency; and
 
10    WHEREAS, According to the Centers for Disease Control 
11(CDC), for every one drowning fatality, eight people are 
12impacted by a non-fatal drowning; and
 
13    WHEREAS, The Every Child a Swimmer (ECAS) program is a 
14division of the International Swimming Hall of Fame and has a 
15mission to ensure every child learns to swim, reducing the 
16devastating impact of childhood drownings across our nation; 
17the program provides swim lesson scholarships to low income 
18families, allowing every child to acquire the skills to save 
19themselves in an emergency; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Water safety legislation sponsored by Every Child 
21a Swimmer has been successfully implemented in Florida, 
 
 
SR0125- 2 -LRB104 12374 ECR 22610 r

1Georgia, and Arkansas, requiring all schools K-12 to provide 
2information on the importance of water safety and on local 
3options for swim lessons as well as how to receive lessons at a 
4free or reduced cost; and
 
5    WHEREAS, These efforts are creating a generation of 
6swimmers who are safer and more prepared around the water; and
 
7    WHEREAS, By working together to improve water competency, 
8including swimming skills, water safety knowledge, and helping 
9others, water activities can be safer yet just as fun; 
10therefore, be it
 
11    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL 
12ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we encourage school 
13districts throughout the State of Illinois to consider 
14providing age appropriate education intended to promote safety 
15in, on, and around bodies of water to reduce the risk of injury 
16or drowning; and be it further
 
17    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be 
18delivered to the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and 
19the Every Child a Swimmer (ECAS) program.