By Casey McGovern
Drowning is silent, fast, and unforgiving. It does not discriminate, and it can happen to anyone, anywhere.
Years ago, my daughter, Edna Mae, drowned in our backyard pool. In an instant, everything changed. There is no way to prepare for that kind of heartbreak, and no way to go back and do things differently. You learn to live with it, to carry it. And for me, that meant turning my grief into something that could help protect other families.
Because the truth is, drowning is not rare, and it is not always loud or obvious. It remains the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4, and one of the top causes for children ages 5 to 14 as well. In 2025, Florida alone suffered the loss of 125 children to drowning, the highest number in recorded history. And according to the CDC, for every fatal drowning, there are eight non-fatal incidents, making the true impact far greater than most people realize.
I share my story not because it is easy, but because awareness saves lives, and every one of us has the ability to be part of that change.
Water safety starts with simple, intentional actions. Designate a “Water Watcher” when children are near water, someone fully present, without distractions. Put proper barriers in place around pools. Learn CPR, because those first moments matter more than anything. And most importantly, make sure children have access to formal swim lessons. That one step alone can reduce the risk of drowning by up to 88 percent. These are not complicated solutions, but they are life-saving ones.
Today, I lead Every Child a Swimmer, a program dedicated to making sure more children have access to those life-saving lessons. We partner with hundreds of swim schools across the country to provide scholarships to families in need, and we work to pass legislation that ensures water safety education reaches families early, at school enrollment and even at birth. This work is deeply personal to me, but its impact is far-reaching. It is about creating a culture where water safety is second-natural, where families are informed, and where children are given the skills they need to stay safe.
But real change only happens when more people get involved.
This Mother’s Day, I am asking you to take action. Have the conversation about water safety with your family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues. If you are in a position to help, consider supporting organizations that are working to prevent drowning. A donation, a commitment to monthly giving, or simply helping us spread the message can provide swim lessons for a child and potentially save a life. We all have a role to play in protecting children.
And together, we can create a future where every child has the opportunity to learn to swim and to grow up safely.
For more information, please visit www.everychildaswimmer.org