Prevent Drownings: Practice Water Safety
It’s the first holiday weekend of the summer. If you’re heading to waterparks, pools, spas, or recreational areas that may be in or near water, remember to take the necessary precautions to prevent drownings.
In 2019, an estimated 236,000 people died from drowning, making it a major public health
problem, worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In the U.S., nearly
4,000 deaths occur yearly from drowning; of those, approximately 800 are children. A small
child can drown in just a few centimeters of water as a bucket of water.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states, that among children, ages 1– 4, more die from
drowning than any other cause of death except birth defects. For children ages 1 – 14, fatal
drowning is the second–leading cause of unintentional injury–related death following motor
vehicle crashes.
According to a CDC study conducted by Researcher Merianne Spencer, the highest risk locations for drowning vary by age:
• Less than 1 year old: two-thirds drowned in bathtubs
• Ages 1 – 13: a high percentage of deaths occurred in swimming pools
• Ages 14 – 17: drowning occurred in natural waters like lakes, rivers, and oceans
Most fatal submersions occur at residential locations. Of those involving younger children,
adults are present, but become distracted, resulting in a lapse of adult supervision. People
assume, that when a person is drowning, they will be able to hear them drowning or know when
they are in trouble, but on the contrary, someone struggling to stay afloat and breathe is
often unable to wave their arms or call for help; therefore, they drown in silence without
attracting attention; drowning is swift and silent.
Suction Entrapment in Pools, Spas/Hot Tubs & Whirlpool Bathtubs
Hot tubs, spas, and whirlpool bathtubs are often overlooked as a drowning danger for
children. Incidents of unintentional drownings among these water–related recreational
devices result in falls into the water, hair that becomes tangled in drains or jets, or from body
parts becoming trapped.
The Prince William County Fire and Rescue System Chief Tim Keen urges residents to be
vigilant in preventing injuries and drownings by taking the following precautions when you
and your loved ones are in or near water:
• NEVER leave a child unsupervised near a pool, spa, bathtub, toilet, water–filled
bucket, pond, or any standing body of water for even a second!
• ALWAYS designate a responsible adult to be the “Water Watcher” of young children
while in and around water. The designated adult should not be involved in other
distracting activities, i.e., answering the phone, playing games, etc.
• Install a four–sided, 5–foot fence with a gate. The gate should be self–closing and self–
latching (latches should be above a child’s reach). The fence should surround any
pool or spa with openings no more than 4 inches wide to prevent children from
squeezing through the spaces. For more information visit the Building Development
Division and click on Residential Pools, Spas, & Hot Tubs listed under Improvements
& Construction.
• DO NOT use flotation devices, i.e., air–filled or foam toys, noodles, or inner tubes in
place of life jackets/PFDS (personal flotation devices). Many flotation devices are
considered toys and not designed to keep swimmers safe.
• DO NOT allow children to play in and around the pool or spa area. Remove all toys,
balls, and floats from around or in a pool.
• DO NOT allow underwater play in a hot tub or spa.
• Know where the pump cutoff switch is located, in the hot tub or spa, so it can be
turned off in an emergency.
• Keep a locked safety cover on the hot tub or spa when not in use.
• Learn to swim; formal swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning among
children 1 – 4 years of age.
• Avoid swimming after dark and in muddy waters of lakes, ponds, and rivers.
• Regardless of one’s swimming ability, size of the boat, or distance to be traveled,
require all persons to wear U.S. Coast Guard approved lifejackets/personal flotation
devices (PFDS) when boating or involved in water–related recreational activities.
• DO NOT dive into above–ground pools, shallow water, or water where you don’t
know the depth. Diving into shallow water can cause spinal injuries.
• ALWAYS swim and/or boat with a buddy and select areas with lifeguards.
• Avoid alcohol consumption or use of other drugs while supervising children during
recreational water activities or participating in recreational water activities.
• Check the local weather conditions prior to engaging in recreational water activities.
• Learn CPR! It saves lives.
Individuals can reduce, even eliminate, water–related injuries and deaths by simply changing
their behavior. Hence, before heading to the park, beach, or local neighborhood pool,
implement safety measures that will protect you and your loved ones when in or near the water.
For more information, visit the World Health Organization, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Safe Kids Worldwide, Statista, and Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Pool or Spa Submersion: Estimated Nonfatal Drowning Injuries and Reported Drownings 2021 Report.