VALHALLA, NY (May 20, 2025) — Leaders from the Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth), Westchester County, and the Stew Leonard III Water Safety Foundation gathered at Glen Island Park to address a sharp rise in pediatric drownings, urging communities to prioritize water safety education and supervision to prevent further tragedies.
In 2024, Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, WMCHealth’s advanced care pediatric center and Level I pediatric trauma center, treated 23 pediatric drowning cases, more than triple the historical average of 7–8 per year. “We’re here today because something deeply alarming is happening in our communities,” said David Lubarsky, MD, MBA, President and CEO of WMCHealth. “Last year, we saw 23 pediatric drowning emergencies across our trauma and emergency departments. That’s not a statistic — that’s 23 families forever changed.”
Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins emphasized vigilance as summer approaches. “As we look forward to a fun and festive Memorial Day Weekend, we want to remind everyone – parents, grandparents, and caretakers – that the most important thing to remember this summer is the safety of your children,” Jenkins said. “Accidental drownings can happen within seconds, and sometimes those seconds can mean the difference between life and death.”
Kim and Stew Leonard Jr., co-founders of the Stew Leonard III Water Safety Foundation and Stewie the Duck Swim School, announced a $400,000 initiative in partnership with Step into Swim to fund free or low-cost swim lessons for underserved children. “Until swimming lessons are part of every child’s school curriculum, it’s up to caregivers to make water safety a priority,” they said. “It starts with supervision, education, and teaching children to swim.” Swim lesson providers can apply for funding at StepIntoSwim.org.
The press conference highlighted key prevention strategies, including enrolling children in certified swim programs, using pool fences and covers, designating undistracted adult “Water Watchers,” and educating kids with resources like the Stewie the Duck Learns to Swim book and app. Parents can contact info@stewietheduck.org or visit www.stewietheduck.org for more information.
This article was drafted with the aid of Grok, an AI tool by xAI, under the direction and editing of Robert Cox to ensure accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards.
