Drowning Prevention and Water Safety: Key Facts for Children and Teens

By Nicole Lucas, MSN, RN, NE-BC

Drowning remains one of the leading causes of unintentional injury and death among children and teens in the United States. In New York State alone, hundreds of individuals are hospitalized or die each year due to drowning incidents. The majority of these tragedies are preventable. As healthcare professionals, caregivers, and communities, we must work together to ensure every child has a safe environment around water (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2024).

The Reality of Drowning Risk
Children and teens are particularly vulnerable to drowning. According to the CDC (2024), drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury death for children ages 1–4 and the second leading cause for children ages 5–14. Factors such as inadequate supervision, lack of swimming skills, and unsafe swimming environments significantly increase this risk. In response, New York State’s Public Health Law § 2803-j (6) requires all hospitals and birthing centers to offer new parents a water safety video (New York State Department of Health [NYSDOH], 2025).

Childhood Drowning Prevention for New Parents (YouTube link) Childhood Drowning Prevention for New Parents (youtube.com)

This proactive measure aims to empower families with the knowledge to prevent water-related injuries from the very beginning of a child’s life (NYSDOH, 2025).

Essential Drowning Prevention Tips
Preventing drowning starts with awareness and vigilance. Here are critical safety practices for parents and caregivers:

• Active Supervision: Children must be actively supervised around any body of water, including pools, bathtubs, and even buckets or pails. Supervision should be close, constant, and undistracted.

• Pool Barriers: Home pools should have a four-sided fence that separates the pool area from the home and yard. Pool covers and alarms may offer additional safety but should never replace fencing.

• Never Swim Alone: Children and teens should always swim with a buddy and under adult supervision.

• Swim in Lifeguarded Areas: Public swimming areas with trained lifeguards offer an added layer of safety.

• Use Approved Life Jackets: Only use U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets, properly fitted to the child’s size and weight. Remember, life jackets are not substituting for adult supervision (United States Coast Guard [USCG], 2025).

Pool Safety at Home and in Public
For families with home pools, safety must be a priority. Adults should always be present when the pool is in use, regardless of the swimmer’s age or ability. Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional death among children ages 5–14. Tragically, even strong swimmers can drown quickly and silently (NYSDOH, 2025). New York State law also mandates that all public pools constructed after March 30, 1998, must have an enclosure at least four feet high, accessible only through self-closing and self-latching gates. These structural safeguards are vital in preventing unsupervised access by children.

Water Hazards Beyond the Pool
Drowning can occur in just two inches of water. This makes household water sources—bathtubs, toilets, and even mop buckets—potential hazards:
• Always supervise children in the bathtub.
• Avoid leaving older children responsible for younger siblings in water settings.
• Keep toilet lids closed and empty any water containers immediately after use.

Outdoor environments such as lakes, rivers, and oceans add further risk due to currents, underwater hazards, and cold temperatures. Children should be taught the unique dangers of these settings and always be supervised closely (Healthy children, 2023).

Special Considerations for Medical Conditions
Children with seizure disorders, heart conditions, or other health concerns may be at higher risk of drowning. For these children, customized safety strategies should be developed in consultation with their healthcare providers. Extra supervision and limitations on certain activities may be necessary (Denny et al., 2021). In addition, swimming in cold water (below 70°F) should be avoided. Cold water can quickly lead to hypothermia, a life-threatening condition that affects the body’s ability to function (NYSDOH, 2025).

Life-Saving Skills and Emergency Response
Every caregiver should learn CPR with rescue breathing and basic first aid. Prompt action can save a life and reduce the likelihood of permanent injury. It’s important to note that the Heimlich maneuver should not be used for drowning victims, as it can cause choking or aspiration.
• While life jackets and flotation devices add a layer of protection, inflatable toys such as water wings and rafts should never be relied upon for safety.
• Life jackets should be Coast Guard-approved and should not take the place of adult supervision. Air-filled swimming aids, such as water wings and floats, should not be used in place of approved personal flotation devices (USCG, 2025).

Building a Culture of Safety
Drowning prevention is a shared responsibility. Hospitals, birthing centers, schools, and community organizations play a critical role in educating families. Encouraging swim lessons, modeling safe behavior, and sharing reliable information can collectively make a difference.

Trusted Resources for Families
To learn more about drowning prevention and water safety, explore these trusted organizations: • American Academy of Pediatrics

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• National Safety Council • Safe Kids Worldwide

• U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

• Stewie The Duck Swim School - Swim Lessons in Norwalk, CT

• Life Jackets & Life Preservers for Children - HealthyChildren.org

By making water safety a consistent conversation and taking proactive steps, we can reduce the number of water-related tragedies and ensure that children and teens enjoy water activities safely and responsibly.

References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, May 16). Drowning facts. https://www.cdc.gov/drowning/data-research/facts/index.html Denny, S. A., Quan, L., Gilchrist, J., McCallin, T., Shenoi, R., Yusuf, S., Weiss, J., & Hoffman, B.; Council on Injury, Violence, and Poison Prevention. (2021). Prevention of drowning. Pediatrics, 148(2), e2021052227. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2021-052227 HealthyChildren.org. (2023). Life jackets & life preservers for children. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-play/Pages/Life-Jackets-and-LifePreservers.aspx New York State Department of Health. (2025). Drowning prevention & water safety for children and teens. https://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/injury_prevention/drowning_prevention.htm United States Coast Guard. (2025). Personal flotation devices (PFDs). https://www.dco.uscg.mil/CG-ENG-4/PFD/