Water Safety, Beyond Visibility: Featuring Live Like Jake
Drowning Prevention Starts With Education
At HiViz Swimwear, our mission extends beyond making children more visible in and around water. We are committed to helping families better understand water-related risks and sharing practical education that can help parents and caregivers make safer choices.
We also believe some of the most powerful water safety education comes from the foundations and advocates who dedicate their lives to protecting children and supporting families. By sharing their voices, we hope to raise awareness of their work and give our community information that could make a meaningful difference.
Water Safety Voice: Keri Morrison, Live Like Jake
We are honored to begin our series with Keri Morrison, Jake’s mom and the founder of the Live Like Jake Foundation. After Keri and her husband, Roarke, tragically lost their young son Jake in a drowning accident, they turned their unimaginable heartbreak into a mission to help protect other children and families. Through drowning-prevention education, self-rescue swim lesson scholarships and support for families affected by drowning, they continue to honor Jake and carry his joyful legacy forward.
What does “Live Like Jake” mean to you, and how has Jake’s memory shaped the work of the foundation?
“To me, ‘Live Like Jake’ means living with joy, kindness and a love for others—the way Jake lived during his short life. His memory is at the heart of everything we do. Losing Jake showed us how quickly and silently drowning can happen, and it gave us a responsibility to help prevent other families from experiencing the same loss. Through drowning-prevention education, self-rescue swim lesson scholarships and support for families affected by drowning, we continue Jake’s legacy by helping protect children and care for families when they need it most.”
Jake’s story reminds families that water emergencies do not happen only when children are expected to be swimming.
What precautions should caregivers take when visiting a home, vacation rental, or unfamiliar place near water?
“Water emergencies can happen anytime a child is near water, even when swimming is not planned. When visiting a home or vacation rental, caregivers should immediately identify every potential water hazard, including pools, canals, ponds, hot tubs and pet doors that may provide access outside. Check that doors and windows are locked and alarmed, pool barriers and gates are secure, and children cannot reach the water unnoticed. Assign a responsible adult to maintain constant, distraction-free supervision, especially during busy arrival and departure times. Layers of protection—including barriers, alarms, self-rescue swim skills and CPR—should always be used together.”
Live Like Jake teaches that drowning prevention requires multiple layers of protection.
What are the MOST important layers families should have in place, and what is one layer parents commonly overlook?
“The most important layers include constant, distraction-free adult supervision; a four-sided pool fence with a self-closing, self-latching gate; locked and alarmed doors and windows; self-rescue swim lessons; bright-colored swimwear; and caregivers trained in CPR.
One layer parents commonly overlook is securing every possible route to the water. Pet doors, side gates and doors or windows at a vacation rental can allow a child to reach water unnoticed. No single layer is enough, so these protections must always be used together.”
If every parent and caregiver could take away just one message from your family’s story and Live Like Jake’s work, what would you want it to be?
Better visibility supports quicker recognition, easier tracking, and greater peace of mind around water—especially when conditions aren’t perfect.
