Presentation Session II

Drowning is the leading cause of injury-related death among children in Hawai‘i. Many lack swimming and water safety skills, particularly Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander youth. A school-based aquatic safety education initiative within Hawai‘i’s Department of Education aims to address these inequities through inclusive aquatic safety instruction. This systematic review analyzed 35 studies on aquatic safety programs for children ages 5–11 to identify effective teaching methods, learning environments, and inclusion strategies. Results showed that active, real-water learning and culturally responsive approaches significantly improved water competency, confidence, and hazard recognition. Findings may guide the development of curriculum and evaluation frameworks to support equitable, evidence-based drowning prevention across Hawai‘i’s public schools.