Drowning is the leading cause of death among children ages 1 to 4 in the United States, and it’s getting worse. After years of declining rates, child drowning deaths have increased since the Covid-19 pandemic, perhaps because of disruptions to swimming lessons and public pool access.

Prevention Methods

According to a recent American Academy of Pediatrics report, these tragedies are largely preventable when families and communities use multiple layers of protection. Close, constant supervision is key, especially for toddlers and young children, who should be within arm’s reach whenever they are in or around water.

Every residential pool should be protected by four-sided fencing that completely separates the pool from the house and yard. The fence should have a self-closing, self-latching gate and be at least 4 feet tall. Research has consistently shown that this type of fencing is one of the most effective ways to prevent young children from gaining unsupervised access to pools.

Properly fitted, US Coast Guard-approved life jackets should be used whenever children are boating or swimming in lakes, rivers or other natural bodies of water. Natural bodies of water can be unpredictable, and life jackets provide an important layer of protection even for people who are confident swimmers.

Swimming Lessons

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that most kids should start learning to swim by the time they are 4 years old. They could certainly begin swim lessons earlier, especially for families that have a pool at home, live near a pond or lake, or use a boat regularly.

Research has shown that formal swimming lessons substantially reduce drowning risk among young children. Swim lessons can teach valuable water safety skills and increase confidence in the water, but they do not eliminate risk.

Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.