Suffolk County has unveiled a new preventive action plan to stem the massive wave of drowning deaths plaguing the region. According to news reports, the county on Long Island, which saw an alarming 60% rise in drownings from 2023 to 2024 (15 in 2023 to 24 last year), is releasing a five-point plan with the goal of slashing the number of drownings. The initiative will aim to do that by boosting water safety education and community outreach, strengthening lifeguard ranks and improving data collection and risk assessment.
What The Initiative Means for Safety
Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine told media that the initiative, the first-of-its-kind action plan, will save lives. Officials say a majority of the deaths in 2024 — 15 fatalities — happened in backyard pools and that they hope to curb those tragic incidents with education and safety initiatives. As part of this effort, Stony Brook Children’s Hospital is analyzing the area’s drowning data to better understand the risks. Local schools are adding swim and safety lessons.
Even Airbnb is teaming up with the county to create awareness about pool safety tips to hosts and renters. The county has partnered with the hospital and two national nonprofits — Stop Drowning Now and the ZAC Foundation, which was founded by Karen and Brian Cohn after their 6-year-old son Zachary died in a backyard pool drain accident in 2008. Bobby Hazen, executive director of Stop Drowning Now and a founding member of the NY Water Safety Coalition, stressed that New York is a top five state in the country when it comes to drowning deaths and that this plan will provide resources and education to combat that danger. He also said water is the top killer of children under the age of 4 and the second leading cause of death for those 5 to 14 years of age.
Who Can Be Held Liable for Swimming Pool Accidents?
In New York, liability for a swimming pool drowning accident can extend to several parties, depending on the circumstances of the incident. Property owners/managers are often the primary parties held responsible. Under New York premises liability law, they have a duty to maintain safe conditions, which includes ensuring pools are adequately secured with barriers, warning signs and proper supervision. If they fail to meet these obligations, they may be held liable for injuries or fatalities.
Property owners/managers also carry responsibility when they are in charge of daily pool operations and safety protocols. Their negligence (carelessness) in enforcing rules, hiring/retaining qualified staff, or inspecting facilities may result in liability. Similarly, supervisors, such as camp directors or program leaders, can be held accountable if they fail to provide reasonable oversight during pool activities, particularly those involving children.
Lifeguards are legally expected to exercise reasonable care in monitoring swimmers and responding to emergencies. A lapse in attentiveness, improper training or delayed rescue efforts can expose them and their employers to negligence (carelessness) claims. When summer programs, including camps and community organizations, run swimming activities, they have a duty to screen staff, supervise minors and ensure compliance with safety regulations. Failure to do so may result in liability for the organization. Hotels and resorts also owe a heightened duty of care to guests. They must ensure that their pools are properly maintained, supervised and equipped with safety devices. Neglecting these responsibilities can make them liable in wrongful death or personal injury claims.
Also, product manufacturers may be held responsible if a drowning accident is linked to a defective pool component such as faulty drains, ladders, flotation devices or alarms. In such cases, a products liability claim may be filed. It is important to understand that liability in New York pool drowning cases often involves several potentially responsible parties.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in a swimming pool accident or if you have lost a loved one in an incident caused by someone else’s negligence (carelessness), the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you.
For over 53 years, our skilled accident attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses. Our law firm recently recovered $5,600,000 for a bicyclist who was hit by a van, and $2,550,000 for another victim of a truck accident, and $3,000,000 for a pedestrian who was hit by a car, and $2,000,000 in a hit-and-run accident, and the full $1,000,000 insurance policy for a pedestrian who was hit by a truck, and $4,625,000 for a driver who was in a car and was hit by a van, and $2,500,000 for a man who fell through an improperly secured hole. We also recovered $1,500,000 for a lady who was hurt by a bus.
We also obtained $295,000 out of a $300,000 insurance policy in compensation for the victim of a bicycle dooring accident (where a car door opens into the path of a bicyclist). One of our clients obtained a verdict for $43,940,000 and another of our clients got a verdict for $23,500,000, both in medical malpractice cases. Also, we got a $1,400,000 verdict in a motorcycle accident.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury, lead poisoning and medical malpractice cases including, brachial plexus palsy (Erb’s palsy) and cerebral palsy cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
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Sources: https://www.27east.com/southampton-press/suffolk-alliance-launches-action-plan-to-curb-rising-drownings-2389627/
https://nypost.com/2025/08/29/us-news/suffolk-county-unveils-new-preventative-action-plan-to-combat-massive-60-spike-in-drownings/