The risks of drowning are particularly acute for children and teenagers, with devastating consequences for families and communities. Survivors of nonfatal drownings often face lifelong disabilities, including brain injuries. Low-income neighborhoods, especially on Chicago’s South and West Sides, are statistically more vulnerable due to limited access to affordable swimming lessons and lifeguarded facilities. The lack of swimming skills among many Americans, coupled with insufficient lifeguard staffing, exacerbates the danger. Without intervention, Chicago’s beaches and pools could see preventable tragedies, turning places of joy into sites of loss.