March, 26, 2026

Drowning remains a significant public health issue in the United States, with thousands of lives lost each year and many more impacted by nonfatal incidents. To better understand and address this challenge, the U.S. National Water Safety Action Plan (USNWSAP) has released its Research Agenda, a critical resource designed to guide future study, investment, and innovation in drowning prevention.

Throughout the development of the U.S. National Water Safety Action Plan, numerous evidence gaps were identified, underscoring the need for more applied research to strengthen prevention efforts. With limited funding available, it is essential to focus on the most impactful questions and ensure resources are used strategically. The Research Agenda was created to do just that, serving as an advocacy and alignment tool to identify priority research areas and clearly communicate them to researchers, funders, and partners working to reduce drowning.

What’s Included in the Research Agenda?

The Research Agenda identifies priority gaps in knowledge across the following key areas:

  • Water Competency, Water Safety, and Swimming Lessons
  • Barriers, Alarms, and Other Technology
  • Supervision and Lifeguards
  • Life Jackets and Flotation Devices
  • Rescue and CPR
  • Data and Public Health Surveillance

Each key area highlights the most pressing research questions, providing a roadmap for researchers, funders, and practitioners to focus efforts where they can have the greatest impact.

In addition to the prioritized key areas, the Research Agenda also includes a Top 20 prioritized list, highlighting the highest-ranked research gaps identified through a modified Delphi process. This list includes:

  • 8 from water competency, water safety, and swimming lessons
  • 5 from barriers, alarms and other technology
  • 3 from data and public health surveillance
  • 2 from life jackets and flotation devices
  • 2 from rescue and CPR

Get Started

Whether you are a researcher, policymaker, funder, or practitioner, the USNWSAP Research Agenda offers a clear opportunity to align efforts, close critical gaps, and ultimately save lives.