The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released new data that explains how July still has the highest rate of drowning deaths out of all months, an upsetting trend that has been seen for several years now.
In 2023, the CDC recorded 760 accidental drownings across the U.S. in July. For comparison, June had the second-most drowning deaths in 2023 at 552, which is only 72% of July’s total. In 2022, July saw 790 accidental drowning deaths, which is the highest year reported on the CDC’s new datasheet.
When calculating all drowning deaths per year, Americans have suffered more than 4,000 drowning deaths annually since 2019. Furthermore, CDC data clearly shows that drowning is the leading cause of death among children aged 4 and younger, and it remains one of the top three causes of accidental deaths among demographics aged 5 to 34. Many accidental drownings occur in swimming pools, rather than in the open water or waterways, as some might assume would be more dangerous.
How Can Drowning Deaths in July Be Reduced?
With the CDC’s drowning death data in mind, it is clear that more needs to be done to protect people from accidental drownings and the situations that lead up to them. What can you do to help bring the risk of accidental drownings down? It’s simple: getting even a bit more swimming and water safety information now can help you make better, safer decisions for you and your family later.
Basic yet important swimming pool and water safety tips include:
- Safety barriers: If you own a pool, you should install a safety barrier like a fence with an integrated alarm. You never know when a child might wander into the backyard unsupervised and risk falling into the water. Nothing is as simply effective at keeping children out of pools as safety barriers.
- Supervision: At any water-related event or get-together, multiple adults must be chosen as dedicated supervisors of the pool and swimming areas. Some safety groups recommend one adult for every three children. The National Drowning Prevention Alliance also stresses the importance of “the three Cs” when choosing a dedicated swimming supervisor, which are “competent, capable, and constant.” In other words, the adult must take their role seriously, be able to swim strongly and perform a water rescue quickly, and pay constant attention to the children in the pool.
- Bright colors: Children should wear bright colors while in the water. Pick out a brightly colored or neon swimsuit for your child, so you can easily keep an eye on them. When buying floatation-assistance devices like floaties, you should also choose eye-catching products.
- Life jackets: When on the open water or a water vessel, everyone should have a life jacket. Even adult swimmers who are confident in their abilities should wear one. By doing so, they protect themselves and provide a good example to younger swimmers.
- CPR: At least two adults at every get-together that involves swimming or watercraft activities should know how to perform CPR on adults, children, and infants. Local Red Cross chapters and many hospitals typically offer no-cost CPR courses, especially around the summer when more people will be swimming than average, so it’s worth looking around to see if there is such a course in your area.
With these tips and a general focus on swimming safety, you can help reduce drowning risks at your next get-together or trip to the beach. From all of us at Hilliard Law, we wish you and your loved ones a safe summer.
If you live in Texas and a fatal or near-fatal drowning accident occurs in your family, and you think a third party might be responsible, talk to our attorneys by dialing (361) 882-1612 at any time. For example, if a swimming pool drowning happens, the owner of the swimming pool or the property manager might be liable through premises liability laws. Explore your options to demand justice and compensation by scheduling a free case consultation today.
More Information
- “Fatal Injury Trends” (CDC) [filter for “Unintentional Drowning (includes water transport)”]
- “July has the highest number of drowning deaths. Here’s how to prevent them” (Good Morning America)