Drowning Prevention Tips

Drowning Statistics.

1. There are at least 10 fatal drownings per day in the United States.

2. Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death for children ages 1-4. And for every child who drowns, there are another 4-5 who are hospitalized and may suffer lifelong disabilities due to oxygen deprivation.

3. Most children who drown do so within 20 yards of a parent or caregiver.

4. Most childhood drownings occur in residential swimming pools, and in Florida, many children drown in natural bodies of water such as lakes and retention ponds. 

5. The CDC finds that most young children who drowned in pools were last seen in the home, had been out of sight less than five minutes, and the majority of these drownings took place in the midst of a family reunion or other gathering.

6. A Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine study found that formal swim lessons for 1-4 year olds can reduce the risk of drowning up to 88%. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics modified their recommendations about swim lessons, citing studies that show most children over the age of one may be at lower risk of drowning if they have some formal swimming instruction.

Click to learn how swimming at a young age can benefit children in other ways, too!

7. Drowning is fast and silent. Drowning can happen in as little as 20-60 seconds; the time it takes to apply some sunscreen, respond to a text, or read a post on social media. 

8. Movies depict drowning as flailing and yelling for help but in reality this is not the case - most drowning victims slip into the water undetected, and cannot surface to splash or call for help. 

9. Parental Supervision is the #1 way to prevent drowning. No level of aquatic skills will replace adult supervision. However, no one can watch their child 24/7, so if your child ever goes missing, check the water first!

Bathtub Safety

  1. After pools, more children drown in bathtubs than in any other place in and around the home.

  2. Never leave your child alone in the bathtub, and never leave an older sibling in charge of a younger sibling, even if you’ve just started running the water and the tub isn’t full or the children aren’t yet in it.

  3. Don’t leave to answer the phone, the door, or to get a towel -- if you need to leave take your child with you.

  4. Always, check the temperature first, particularly when you are at a hotel or visiting and giving your child a bath in a different tub.

  5. Make sure your tub area is clear of electronic appliances. Hairdryers are responsible for several electrocutions a year.

  6. Baby bath seats are not a substitute for supervision. A bath seat is a bathing aid, not a safety device.

Pool Safety

  1. Studies suggest a fenced backyard swimming pool reduces a child’s risk of drowning by 83 percent

  2. All Pools should be enclosed with a 4 ft, 4-sided permanent pool fence and self-locking gate. Keep the gate closed at all times.

  3. Keep patio furniture away from the fence, and outdoor/pool toys stored in an area that is isolated from the pool deck - this prevents children from climbing onto anything in an effort to scale the fence

  4. Make sure all doors leading to the pool are locked and alarmed, and secure “doggy doors” whenever they are not in use

  5. Whenever you are around or in a pool, keep your child within arm’s reach

  6. Any time there is more than one adult in or near the water with any children, use the
    “water watcher” system to ensure someone always has their attention on each child.

Beach Safety

  1. When you first arrive at the beach, locate a lifeguard tower and set up near it if possible.

  2. Dress your child in bright colors so he/she is easy to spot, and take a photo as soon as you arrive. If you lose sight for any reason, showing a photo is easier and faster than giving a description should you need help in locating your child.

  3. Familiarize yourself with beach signal flags, and check with the guard on duty about existing conditions such as rip currents, jellyfish, etc.

  4. Know how to spot a rip current and avoid them.

  5. Always remain within 10 feet of your child on the beach, and within arm’s reach in the water, even at the shoreline.

  6. Keep in mind that a 2-foot wave could bring the water completely over your child’s head.

  7. Knee deep (your child’s, not yours) is a good guideline to follow unless you are actively holding your child or if they are skilled at swimming and floating independently are within arm’s reach of a standing adult.

Remember these facets of keeping children safe in and around the water:

Supervision is #1 - make sure someone is always within arm’s reach of a child who is in or around the water. Never assume someone else is watching your child!

When adult supervision lapses, proper alarms and fencing can prevent a child from reaching the water unattended

If a child does reach the water alone, without a quick rescue by someone, knowing how to swim to the side or roll and float independently is the only chance they have to survive.

Remember, children don’t drown because they can’t swim; they drown because they can’t breathe.

Learn to perform CPR. It is essential to be prepared if an emergency happens. CPR saves live.

Empowering children and their
families to safely enjoy the water.