Drowning Is The Leading Cause of Death in Young Kids. Here’s How To Prevent It

May 28, 2025

With summer approaching in the Northern Hemisphere, the CDC reports concerning statistics about drowning deaths in the United States, which average 11 per day. Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1-4, with significant increases in recent years and notable racial disparities in fatality rates. The majority of pediatric drownings (80%) occur in residential settings like backyard pools, often due to inadequate supervision.

Who is affected

Children ages 1-4 (highest drowning risk group with 461 deaths in 2022)
Children under age 15, particularly African American children (21% of all drownings)
Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native and non-Hispanic Black/African American individuals (higher drowning rates)
People who haven't had swim lessons (55% of all adults)
Families with residential pools

What action is being taken

The CDC is monitoring and reporting drowning statistics, including recent increases in death rates
Organizations like the American Red Cross are providing CPR and first aid training
Local community pools are employing lifeguards for water safety
Some states are legally requiring childproof fencing around private swimming pools
Swimming instructors are teaching water safety skills to both children and adults

Why it matters

Drowning deaths increased 28% from 2019 to 2022 for children ages 1-4
Drowning is the leading cause of death in children ages 1-4
Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death for children 5-14
80% of pediatric drownings occur at residences, with 91% of these involving children under 7
Research shows formal swim lessons reduce drowning risk by 88% for children ages 1-4

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint