CDC reports the leading cause of Death in Children 　

Emergency Message System

June 1st, 2023

Summer Swim Safety

Drowning Is a Leading Cause of Death for Children

Keeping children safe in and around water, especially as Memorial Day Weekend kicks off, allows everyone to enjoy summer water activities. Drowning is the leading cause of death for children 1 to 4 years old, and the second leading cause of unintentional injury death for children 5 to 14 years old. Drowning can happen in seconds and is often silent. It can happen to anyone, any time there is access to water. This includes pools and lakes, and also smaller water bodies like bathtubs and water-filled buckets. However, drowning is preventable.

Drowning is preventable. Follow these key prevention steps:

Properly fence home swimming pools,
learn how to swim and teach children how to swim,
supervise children closely and constantly when they are in or near water, and
wear a properly fitted life jacket as these steps can all reduce the risk of drowning.