In the heart of Camden, New Jersey, a group of dedicated advocates gathered this week to unveil a vision—a vision to prevent drowning tragedies that have claimed the lives of far too many in the Garden State.
Their mission is clear: to reduce drownings by 30% by the year 2030, an ambitious goal that begins with awareness, education, and community action.
The numbers are stark and tragic.
Drownings are not just a summer hazard; they are an ongoing public health crisis that devastates families year-round. The statistics are alarming—drowning remains the leading cause of death for children aged 1 to 4, and New Jersey saw 34 drowning fatalities last year alone.
The consequences of these incidents stretch far beyond the initial shock and grief—they ripple through communities, leaving a wake of mourning and unhealed wounds.
But in Camden, at the Kroc Center, a collective determination took root.
The New Jersey Swim Safety Alliance, a newly formed coalition of health experts, community leaders, and families who have been touched by the tragedy of drowning, unveiled a comprehensive strategy aimed at saving lives.
This 60-page document serves as a roadmap for change, focusing on swim safety awareness, lifeguard training, drowning prevention, and data collection, all with the goal of safeguarding future generations.
In the crowd, Curlie Jackson stood resolute, clutching a photograph of her late grandson, Naisere LaDonn Nelson, whose life was tragically cut short in 2011 by the merciless grip of an ocean undertow.
Naisere was 15 years old, swimming with friends when the tide took him out to sea. Jackson, whose voice trembled with the weight of a mother’s grief, passes out bracelets bearing Naisere’s name, hoping that one day her pain will translate into prevention.
“My message is simple,” she said. “Don’t go in without a lifeguard.”
Jackson’s words echo across generations of families who have experienced the unimaginable. Connie Ercol, whose 14-month-old daughter, Victoria, drowned in a backyard pond during a birthday party in 1992, spoke with a similar conviction.
“Victoria lived for 23 hours, and then I held her as she went into the arms of Jesus,” Ercol shared quietly, her eyes glistening with the memory of a loss that no parent should endure. Ercol, who founded the Victoria Ercol Memorial Foundation, has spent years working to ensure that no other family suffers as hers did.
The statistics tell a painful story, but the faces of those who have lost children and loved ones to drowning are the true measure of the problem. From the youngest toddlers to young adults seeking solace in the water, the danger is universal, unrelenting, and, for many, tragically familiar.
Just recently, a 22-year-old man drowned in Logan Township, and a 27-year-old lost his life at Penbryn Lake in Winslow Township. These losses are not isolated—they are part of a pattern, a ripple of grief that spreads far and wide.
Megan Ferraro of The ZAC Foundation, who was present at the unveiling of the strategy, called drowning “an important public health injury that we need to work on preventing.”
Her words are a stark reminder that the solution requires more than just good intentions—it demands action at every level, from awareness campaigns to the critical training of lifeguards who stand between life and death.
The strategy released this week has been shaped by the input of more than 200 stakeholders, making it a truly community-driven initiative. New Jersey now becomes the third state in the nation—after California and Hawaii—to adopt a state-specific water safety plan, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing battle to prevent drownings.
But as experts like Judith Leblein Josephs emphasize, the fight is not just about statistics; it’s about changing attitudes, particularly among parents.
“Parents need to understand that they must be no further than an arm’s throw away when their kids are in the water,” said Josephs, who helped craft the strategy. It’s a simple, yet powerful message that could mean the difference between life and death. The plan focuses not just on swimming lessons and lifeguard training, but on creating a culture of safety that extends to every pool, lake, and beach in the state.
It’s not just about lifeguards and lessons, however. The Alliance has also acknowledged the deep disparities in access to water safety resources. Drownings are disproportionately prevalent in underserved communities, where access to swim lessons and proper gear can be limited. In response, the New Jersey Swim Safety Alliance is working to collect bathing suits and offer free swim lessons to children who need them the most. This initiative is an important step toward ensuring that no child, regardless of background or income, is left behind in the effort to prevent drowning.
In the end, this strategy is not just a set of plans on paper; it is a call to action. It is a reminder that behind every statistic is a family, a community, and a story of loss. Curlie Jackson, who has lived the nightmare of losing a loved one to drowning, hopes this initiative will prevent another family from experiencing the grief that has marked her life. “It’s extremely important to me,” she said, her voice steady with resolve, “and I’m hoping this initiative will prevent them.”
The road ahead will not be easy. There will be challenges, and there will be setbacks. But with the collective will of individuals like Jackson, Ercol, and so many others, there is hope. Hope that by working together—through education, awareness, and unwavering commitment—New Jersey can become a safer place for its children, its families, and its communities. It is a goal that is not only possible, but necessary. And it is a fight worth every ounce of effort.