Hawaiʻi proposes new water safety standards for all school grades

The Hawaiʻi Department of Education recently presented proposed physical education standards that would require water safety education for students in all grade levels for the first time.

The plan aims to teach students about common water hazards, rescue techniques, and the signs of drowning. If the state education board approves the plan this school year, the requirements will apply to all students across the islands. The new standards allow for different types of instruction based on school resources.

Because many schools lack access to a pool or calm ocean water, some students will receive safety lessons in a classroom setting. The department says that many components of water safety can be taught on dry land. However, the standards also aim for students to learn how to float, tread, and propel themselves through water if their school has the necessary facilities.

Advocates say these standards are necessary because drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 15 in Hawaiʻi. A 2019 report estimated that only half of children in the state know how to swim. To address this, organizations like Nā Kama Kai are using a mobile pool to bring swimming lessons directly to schools in Nānākuli and Waiʻanae. Other nonprofits are partnering with schools to provide transportation to community pools.

Nonprofits say they need more state investment to make these programs equitable for students in areas without public pools.