Water Safety Tips Every Family Should Know

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identifies drowning as the second leading cause of unintentional injury deaths for children ages one to 14, with 4,000 deadly unintentional drownings occurring annually. However, these tragedies are preventable with proper precautions and awareness. The National Weather Service emphasizes a simple but critical message for flooding situations: "Turn around, don't drown." Driving or walking into flood waters is a major cause of fatalities, as water often moves faster or runs deeper than it appears. Flash flooding remains one of the leading causes of weather-related fatalities in the United States and can happen at any time of day or year. According to meteorologist Meredith Garafalo, flash flooding can occur in as little as a few minutes or after hours of continuous rain in the same location. Children aged five through fourteen are more likely to drown in natural bodies of water such as lakes, ponds, and rivers compared to swimming pools. These environments present distinct challenges that require specific safety awareness. Natural water bodies often have unpredictable currents, varying depths, and limited visibility. Unlike pools with controlled conditions, lakes and rivers can have sudden drop-offs, underwater obstacles, and changing weather conditions that affect water safety. Retention ponds, commonly found in residential areas, present particular dangers. As noted by the National Drowning Prevention Alliance, "they're not bodies of water to swim in." These man-made water features may appear calm but can have steep sides and murky water that conceals hazards. City officials have identified retention ponds as an ongoing concern, particularly for children with autism who may be drawn to these water sources near their homes. The challenge is that many of these drownings occur on private property, limiting municipal oversight and intervention capabilities. The tragedy becomes more pronounced for children with autism, who face drowning rates 160 times higher than their typically developing peers. This population is often drawn to water near their homes, making awareness and protective measures especially critical. A Drowning deaths, particularly among children, increase during summer months, with July representing the peak period. For children between ages one and four, drowning is the leading cause of death, with a significant number of incidents occurring in home swimming pools. The CDC recommends several key prevention steps: learning to swim, using life jackets, building barriers around pools, and maintaining constant supervision of children near water. Additional measures include avoiding alcohol and drugs before swimming, understanding natural water risks, and learning CPR. Research from Alive Solutions demonstrates that brighter colored swimsuits are easier to spot underwater compared to lighter colors. Their color tests show that bright reds, pinks, blues, and greens remain visible underwater, while white and light blue essentially disappear. However, experts emphasize that swimsuit color serves only as a secondary safety measure. Active supervision and swimming lessons remain the primary prevention methods. Formal swim lessons can reduce drowning risk by 88%. Monica Robins is not a medical doctor. All content presented in this program is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be relied on as health or personal advice. Always seek the guidance of your personal doctor or qualified healthcare professional with any questions regarding your health or medical condition.