Campaign Mission
The RESPECT the Water Drowning Prevention Campaign is dedicated to fostering water awareness and ensuring community well-being through education and proactive safety measures. Our mission is to reduce aquatic accidents by empowering individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to stay safe in, on, and around the water.
Endorsed by Matt Biondi & Elizabeth Beisel
"Water safety is not just a skill, it's a necessity. RESPECT the Water provides the foundation every family needs." — Matt Biondi
"Respecting the water starts with education. I am proud to support AOAP in this critical lifesaving mission." — Elizabeth Beisel
What RESPECT Means
R — Recognition
Recognize the signs of distress and reach out for help or a reaching aid.
E — Education
Ensure everyone has basic water safety education and swimming skills.
S — Supervision
Stay within arm’s length. Supervision must be constant and undistracted.
P — Physical Barriers
Provide essential life-saving equipment and barriers to water entry.
E — Expectations
Establish and practice an emergency action plan for any aquatic accident.
C — Communication
Communicate safety rules clearly to all users and keep lines open.
T — Training
Take part in professional lifesaving and water safety training workshops.
PSA Resources
Explore our comprehensive list of English and Spanish Public Service Announcements designed to educate and empower communities. Highlighted resources include Water Safety Fundamentals, Community Awareness Video Series, and targeted Spanish Language PSAs.
Resources & Education
Access vital drowning prevention education, campaign materials, and instructional resources designed for schools, communities, and aquatic professionals.
Classroom Materials
Comprehensive drowning prevention education curricula and activities tailored for K-12 students and educators.
PSA Media Kit
Access our complete list our Public Service Announcements featuring Matt Biondi, Summer Sanders, Dana Vollmeer and Elizabeth Beisel.
RESPECT Acronym
Understand the core pillars of the RESPECT campaign: Recognize, Educate, Supervise, Prepare, Equipment, Community, and Training.
RESPECT the Water PSA Content
The Association for Aquatic Professionals, in partnership with Note of Hope and Olympian Spokespersons Matt Biondi and Elizabeth Beisel, produced a song and PSA specifically designed to lower drowning rates across all communities.
Our free Drowning Prevention Education program covers fundamental water safety protocols, professional rescue techniques, and community-based advocacy. Conference education is offered annually during the AOAP conference at no charge to professionals or community members registration.
International Aquatics & Water Safety Conference
The Association for Aquatic Professionals is proud to offer comprehensive education at our annual conference. Join thousands of aquatic experts worldwide for our premier sessions on lifesaving techniques, management protocols, and innovative safety research. Participation is entirely free, ensuring that critical drowning prevention knowledge is accessible to every community, regardless of financial resources.
Join the RESPECT Movement
Drowning is preventable. Together, we can create a safer world for every community by participating in the RESPECT campaign. Your involvement directly supports ongoing education and life-saving drowning prevention efforts worldwide.