Drowning is preventable—but only when data becomes action. The Research & Implementation Science( RISC) Committee drives DRIPPI’s mission to translate evidence into practice. We unite researchers, health professionals, urban planning engineers, community innovators, and more to develop & evaluate interventions that save lives. 

From analyzing drowning epidemiology to piloting scalable, trauma-free water safety programs based in interdiscinplinary research from motor learning/development, physiology, & developmental psychology, this committee ensures that science drives action (via programmatic intervention) where it’s needed most.

Drowning prevention demands systemic solutions. The Policy, Legislation & Advocacy (PLA) Committee advances evidence-based reforms at the local, state/sub-national, national, and even multinational level. Bridging research with public policy, PLA objectively evaluates a myriad of topics, including how to build, maintain, & advocate for safer, more equitable aquatic environments.

From advancing policy & access for early childhood aquatics programming & infrastructure to advising on warning labels & performance requirements for buoyancy aids in pools; to raising awareness about safe river crossings for children to get to school, the PLA Committee transforms data into lifesaving policy, regulation, and legislative action.

Communities are the heartbeat of prevention. The Education & Community Programming (ECP) Committee focuses on empowering parents, caregivers, local leaders, communities, legislators, pediatrics, and the media with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to protect children around, on, and in the water. 

We partner with schools, nonprofits, and cultural institutions to deliver trauma-free aquatic education, caregiver training, and awareness campaigns that shift norms from fear to confidence—and from risk to resiliency.