Three-Time Olympian Dana Vollmer And Chairman, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Alexander Hoehn-Saric, Lead Keynote Sessions At 2023 NDPA Water Safety Conference As Experts Gather To Address Leading Cause Of Death Among Children Ages 1-4

Four-Day Event Includes Workshops, Town-Halls and Expert Q&As on Childhood Drowning and Prevention; Exhibit Hall Free and Open to the Public on Wednesday, February 15

Colorado Springs, CO., February 7, 2023 – On February 13, 2023 the National Drowning Prevention Alliance (NDPA.org) will kick off its 2023 National Water Safety Conference. Presented in conjunction with the AOAP (Association of Aquatic Professionals) Annual Conference at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the annual event is for all advocates of childhood drowning prevention – from parents and pediatricians to pool industry pros and product safety experts.

With drowning being the leading cause of death among children ages 1-4, the four-day conference focuses on child safety advocacy, injury prevention, safety education, water safety, drowning prevention, first response, public health, public policy, and aquatics. The conference program includes more than 80 sessions – both in-person and virtual – and provides attendees with access to industry-leading education, resources, and research in the area of childhood drowning prevention.

“Water safety and childhood drowning prevention are year-round priorities that require year-round attention,” said Adam Katchmarchi, Ph.D., Executive Director, NDPA. “The goal of this year’s annual Water Safety Conference hosted in conjunction with the Association of Aquatic Professionals, is to demonstrate how each of us can help prevent childhood drowning and save lives by understanding how easily it can happen and learning about the five layers protection as a strategy for prevention.”

Highlights from this year’s 2023 Water Safety Conference agenda include (click here for full conference agenda):

Day One – Monday, February 13

9:45am – 11:15am	Keynote – Unraveling Superwoman – Dana Vollmer, Three-Time Olympian
11:40am – 3:10pm	Families share their stories during a series of breakout sessions – The Legacy of Drowning: Surviving Siblings Tell Their Story (Colin’s Hope); From Broken to Brave (Emily Grace Foundation, Hannah’s Hands of Hope)
3:30pm – 4:40pm	NDPA Awards Ceremony – NDPA Water Safety Champions and Honorees

Day Two – Tuesday, February 14

8:00am – 9:00am	General Session – Ignite Your Legacy: Aquatics Professionals Shortage – Kristen Barnes, Counsilman-Hunsaker
10:45am – 11:55am	General Session – Families United to Prevent Drowning – Turning Grief into Action
1:15pm – 5:20pm	General Session – Families United to Prevent Drowning – Turning Grief into Action

Day Three – Wednesday, February 15

9:30am – 12:10am	Breakout Sessions – Enhancing Swimmer Safety – Combining AI, Video Analytics & Humans (Ellis Aquatic Innovations); Addressing Water Safety in Swim Lessons (Goldfish Swim School)
1:00pm – 3:00pm	Exhibit Hall Open to the Public (free)
3:15pm – 4:25pm	Featured Session – A Review of Drowning Epidemiology & Statistics – Dr. Julie Gilchrist, NDPA Chief Medical Advisor
8:45am – 9:55am	Featured Session – A Review of Drowning Epidemiology & Statistics – Dr. Julie Gilchrist, NDPA Chief Medical Advisor

Link to full list of 2023 Water Safety Conference Speakers

Link to 2023 Water Safety Conference session descriptions

Link to Families United to Prevent Drowning – a collection of personal stories from moms, dads, sisters and brothers who are committed to preventing drowning (including Drennen’s Dreams Foundation, Centennial, CO)

“Through this conference and with our ongoing efforts throughout the year, our mission has always been to bring all stakeholders together to collaborate behind a unified agenda that is focused on awareness-building, advocacy and education as a means to reduce and eliminate childhood drowning, which in some states, has reached historic levels,” added Adam Katchmarchi, NDPA.

The 2023 Water Safety Conference was made possible through the generous funding of the Chuck & Ernestina Kreutzkamp Foundation.

About National Drowning Prevention Alliance (NDPA)

The mission of the National Drowning Prevention Alliance is “United, we can prevent the tragedy of drowning.” Through education, awareness, and advocacy, NDPA seeks to reduce the incidence of drowning and aquatic injuries in the United States and abroad and to address the single leading cause of death among children ages 1 to 4. To learn more, visit ndpa.org.