Preventing Drowning | Drowning Prevention | CDC

Drowning can happen to anyone, at any time when there is access to water. More children ages 1 to 4 die from drowning than any other cause of death. Drowning happens in seconds and is often silent.

How you can prevent drowning:

• Supervise children when they are near water
• Learn basic swimming and water safety skills
• Formal swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning.Children who have had swimming lessons still need close and constant supervision when in or around water.
• Build fences that fully enclose pools. Construct and use a four-sided fence that is at least four feet in height and fully encloses the pool. The fence should separate the pool from the house, with self-closing and self-latching gates.
• Remove all toys from the pool area that may attract children to the pool when the pool is not in use.

Wear a life jacket:

• Life jackets reduce the risk of drowning while boating for people of all ages and swimming abilities. Life jackets should be used by children and adults for all activities while in and around natural water. Do not rely on air-filled or foam toys, or paddleboards, as these are not safety devices.

Know the risks of natural waters:

• Lakes, rivers and oceans have hidden hazards such as dangerous currents or waves, rocks or vegetation and limited visibility. Check the forecast before activities in, on, or near water. Local weather conditions can change quickly and cause dangerous flash floods, strong winds and thunderstorms with lightning strikes.

Supervise closely:

• Designate a responsible adult to supervise closely and constantly when children are in or near water (including bathtubs). You can assign a specific adult to supervise each child. Adults watching kids in or near water should avoid distracting activities like reading, using the phone and consuming alcohol or drugs, because drowning happens quickly and quietly.
• After swim time is over, shut and lock doors that give access to water. Be proactive and learn about any risks when visiting another home or unfamiliar location. Adults should supervise children closely even when lifeguards are present.

Learn CPR:

• CPR skills could save someone’s life in the time it takes for paramedics to arrive. Many organizations such as American Red Cross and American Heart Association offer CPR training courses, both online and in-person.

Use the buddy system:

• Always swim with a buddy. Choose swimming sites that have lifeguards when possible. The buddy system is especially beneficial for people with seizure disorders or other medical conditions that increase their risk of drowning.
• Take additional precautions for medical conditions

Avoid alcohol:

• Avoid drinking alcohol before or during swimming, boating or other water activities. Alcohol impairs judgment, balance and coordination. Do not drink alcohol while supervising children.

Consider the effects of medications:

• Avoid swimming if you take medications that impair balance, coordination or judgement. These side effects increase the risk of drowning. Several medications can produce these side effects, such as those used for anxiety and other mental health conditions.
• Do not hyperventilate before swimming underwater or try to hold your breath underwater for long periods of time. This can cause you to pass out and drown. This is sometimes called “hypoxic blackout” or “shallow water blackout.”

Resources:

• Water Safety USAis a roundtable of longstanding national nonprofit and governmental organizations with a strong record of providing drowning prevention and water safety programs, including public education.
• Safe Kids Worldwideis a nonprofit organization working to help families and communities keep kids safe from injuries, including drowning.
• The YMCA is a nonprofit that focuses on strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. See their drowning prevention page for tips about how to be safe around water.
• org, a website from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), contains helpful information for parents on many topics, including water safety advice. Resources in Spanish are included.
• The Drowning Chain of Survivalis composed of five steps that can help to guide the prevention of drowning, as well as rescue and recovery when a drowning incident occurs.
• The American Academy of Pediatrics provides more detailed information about prevention of drowning in the AAP 2019 Policy Statement.