Advancing Drowning Prevention in Michigan

In Michigan, water is a part of life. Home to thousands of other inland lakes, rivers, streams and pools, the state borders four of the five Great Lakes and offers hundreds of miles of pristine freshwater beaches. Michigan relies on its waterways as a source of economic and community development, generating billions of dollars in tourism revenue as people flock to its shores every year.

“Engaging with the water is also incredibly beneficial for physical health, for growth and development among children and youth and for social and emotional health,” said Greg Field, PhD, board member of the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project and Technical Advisor with the CDC Foundation, where he supports swimming and water safety initiatives across the United States.

With all that Michigan’s lakes, rivers and beaches have to offer comes a responsibility to ensure they’re enjoyed safely. But drowning risk is not limited to natural bodies of water. Across all water settings, including pools, hot tubs and bathtubs, there are approximately 142 drowning deaths, 86 non-fatal hospitalizations and 319 emergency department visits annually among Michigan residents. Data shows that males, young children and older adults face elevated risks. Drowning is a preventable public health issue, and better data, stronger partnerships and community-driven action can save lives.

That message was front and center during a recent CDC Foundation webinar, Drowning Prevention in Michigan: A Conversation on Data, Partnerships and Action. One in a series of webinars held this summer, the discussion brought together federal, state and local leaders to explore how Michigan is using data to better understand the scope and impact of drowning and identify opportunities for prevention. .

"An important part of this work is understanding the problem through data,” said Tyronne Charles, Manager of the Unintentional Injury Unit within the Injury and Violence Prevention Section at Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. “By improving how we collect, analyze and use drowning data, we can better identify risks, target prevention efforts and support strategies that help."

The work in Michigan reflects a larger effort to strengthen drowning prevention across the United States. With funding from the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative to Prevent Drowning, the CDC Foundation's Understanding and Preventing Drowning program brings together researchers, health departments and community organizations to build the evidence needed for more effective prevention strategies. Spanning eleven states with high rates of drowning or disproportionate risk, the initiative includes projects focused on improving drowning data, expanding access to swimming and water safety skills training, understanding disparities in drowning risk and examining policies that can help protect communities.

The circumstances of drowning differ from state to state. While in Alaska, seasonal break-up of ice causes hazardous conditions and increases the risk of falling through ice while travelling on frozen bodies of water, in California, pools and hot tubs are involved in a significant number of drowning incidents among young children and older adults. The webinars, which also highlight findings from Georgia, Arizona and New York, demonstrate that while every state faces unique challenges, they also share common opportunities: improving data quality, strengthening cross-sector collaboration and using evidence to guide prevention efforts. Together, these discussions help build a stronger national understanding of drowning and what works to prevent it.

These insights help communities move toward implementing tailored prevention strategies. In Michigan, organizations like the South Haven Ambassadors Program and Education Initiative (SHAPE) and the Great Lakes Water Safety Consortium use the data to provide education and advocacy to make communities and beaches across Michigan safer.

“We go towel to towel, distributing water safety brochures, water watcher wristbands and other educational materials,” said Heather Olney, founder of SHAPE. “Sometimes the most meaningful impact comes from simply showing up, having the conversations, building awareness, creating a culture of safety around the water.” 

By transforming data into action, and by sharing lessons learned across states, the CDC Foundation and partners are helping ensure that organizations can continue their lifesaving work and that more people can safely enjoy the water for years to come.

Learn more about the Understanding and Preventing Drowning program, read the state reports and watch the webinar series to see how communities across the country are advancing drowning prevention.