Water Safety

Life Jacket Nearly 800 children drown every year in the U.S., with two-thirds of drownings happening between May and August, according to Safe Kids Worldwide. Many drowning deaths occur in lakes, rivers, oceans, ponds, and other open water.

STATISTICS ABOUT DROWNING

  • Drowning is the leading cause of preventable death for children ages 1-4.
  • In California, drowning is the leading cause of death for children under 14.
  • Children less than a year old are more likely to drown at home in a bathroom or bucket.
  • Children 1-4 years old are more likely to drown in a pool.
  • Children 5 years of age and older are more likely to drown in open water such as the ocean, lake, pond, or rivers.

SAFETY MEASURES YOU CAN TAKE:

  • Ensure every member of your family learns to swim – at least achieve skills of water competency: able to enter the water, get a breath, stay afloat, change position, swim a distance then get out of the water safely.
  • Employ layers of protection including barriers to prevent access to water, life jackets, and close supervision of children to prevent drowning.
  • Know what to do in a water emergency – including how to help someone in trouble in the water safely, call for emergency help, and CPR

SafeKids Resources