NORMAL, Ill. (25News Now) – Water safety advocates, aquatics professionals, first responders and other educators from across Illinois gathered at Illinois State University for the Illinois Water Stakeholder Action Planning Meeting.
From rivers and lakes to bathtubs and pools, water safety is always a concern for families in Illinois. Experts from across the state came together in Normal to create Illinois’ first statewide plan aimed at preventing drowning deaths.
The meeting covered ways for Illinois’ first statewide plan to prevent drowning to come together.
“We’re really hoping that the plan addresses some key areas around water safety,” said Laura Carlin Cochrane, director of the Illinois Water Safety Plan. “We are focused on improving data and surveillance, how we’re capturing this problem, the scope of it and who is most affected. We would also like to understand more clearly about where and when drownings are occurring.”
The groups evaluated drowning risks from ages 1 to 59. Drowning-related deaths are the number one cause of death for children, and this plan would be something that identifies ways to prevent drowning and to keep families safe.
Meeting participants worked in six priority area teams to review candidate actions and weigh their impact on drowning risks. The Illinois Water Safety Plan executive committee will turn the priorities set on Oct. 20 into a draft plan, aiming to launch it in March 2027.
“Learning how to swim and learning about water safety and how to be the safest in the water comes as naturally to us as other things like learning how to ride a bike, learning how to read and write,” said Rebecca McGregor, vice president of operations at Goldfish Swim School.
While summer splashing may be over, water safety continues to be a year-round concern. Organizers hope that the creation of their plan will prevent future drowning accidents.
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