Summer Safety – Drowning Prevention

It’s officially summertime, which means the temperatures are climbing and we are all looking for ways to cool off. Swimming and water activities are common ways to keep cool and have fun during the summer months, but they are not without risk to our children. After birth defects, drowning is the #1 cause of death in children ages 1-4 years. Teens aged 15-19 years are also at a higher risk. 

In the US, an average of 12 children die every week from drowning!

While we largely think of drowning as a risk during the summer months and participation in water activities, it is important to realize that 70% of drowning deaths occur when it is NOT swim time. This means that children are accessing water when responsible adults are not aware of it. Drowning does not occur because parents are negligent or because they do not care about their children. Drowning occurs because children are inherently curious and capable of leaving parental supervision quickly. 

Part of the problem in drowning prevention lies in our perception of water – we primarily view it as a source of hygiene or recreation, rather than a constant threat to our children.  The statistics are frightening – according to the CDC, in the past 10 years of collected data (2009-2018), the proportion of children dying in drowning accidents is larger than those in motor vehicle accidents. It is thought that this change is likely due to improvements in car seats restraints, but perhaps it is time to take a hard look at ways to prevent drowning deaths.

Key Layers of Protection From Drowning Accidents:

• Swim lessons – the ability to swim should be seen as an essential life skill. It has been shown that children between ages 1-4 years who have had swim lessons have a decreased risk of drowning death. However – and this is very important – it does not mean that your child can then go unsupervised in the water. 

    One important note – though infant survival swim classes have gained in popularity in recent years, there is NO evidence to support their effectiveness in preventing drowning, and they therefore cannot be endorsed. 

• Barriers to water – backyard swimming pools are very common in certain parts of the country, and come with inherent risks to children due to their easy access. Proper fencing around swimming pools has been shown to decrease drowning risk by 50%! Pool fencing should be at least 4ft high, completely surround the pool, and have a a self-closing, self-latching gate as the only entrance point. 

    Other important barriers to water include emptying kiddie pools, buckets, and bathtubs when not in use, and latching toilet seats down. Infants and toddlers can tip over into standing pools of water and are unable to get themselves back out. A child can drown in only a few inches of water. 

• Life Jackets – Coast Guard approved (look for the sticker to designate) life jackets should be worn by all children and teens when they are on, near, or in any natural bodies of water. Inflatable devices such as floaties, arm wings, inner tubes, and etc, are NOT adequate protection. 

• Constant, Close, Capable Supervision – a child should never be in or near water alone. For young children or those who do not know how to swim, parents or caregivers should stay within arm’s reach. Remember, drowning happens quickly. Keep in mind that lifeguards are not a substitute for parental supervision. Rather, think of them as an extra layer of protection for your child. 

   When in large groups, such as a party or other gathering, it is recommended to assign a “water watcher.” This person is a responsible adult who is in charge of monitoring the children in the water. This adult should pay constant attention to the children – avoid cell phones, books, conversations with other adults, or any other activities. Trade off the “water watcher” responsibility with another adult every 15-20min. 

• CPR – be prepared in case of near drowning experiences. Parents and teens should learn CPR. Early initiation of CPR prior to the arrival of emergency services can make the difference between life and death. 

A Special Note about Teens – as I mentioned before, teens aged 15-19 years are at higher risk of drowning deaths. There are multiple reasons for this:

• they may not know how to swim 
• they often make risky decisions while participating in water activities with friends
• they may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• they may not judge how dangerous some natural water sources (such as rip tides or underwater obstacles) can be. 
• they may not be routinely wearing life jackets 

Summertime, swimming, and water activities are all wonderful things. Take the time to think about how to make them as safe as possible for your child, and then enjoy the sounds of splashing until the Fall. 

For more information, please visit aap.org/drowning

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