Water Safety
Protect Your Children from Drowning
Did you know that every year, around 800 children suffer drowning fatalities across the United States? Many of these heartbreaking drowning deaths happen in lakes, rivers, oceans, ponds, and other bodies of open water—with two-thirds of them occurring between the months of May and August. Â
Additional Drowning Statistics
Safe Kids Worldwide provides some sobering statistics regarding these drowning deaths.Â
- Drowning is the leading cause of preventable death for children ages 1-4
- In California, drowning is the leading cause of death for children under 14
- Children under a year old are more likely to drown at home in a bathroom or bucket
- Children 1-4 years old are more likely to drown in a poolÂ
- Children 5 years of age and older are more likely to drown in open water such as the ocean, lakes, rivers, or ponds
Take ACTION with Smart Safety Measures
Don’t despair. But do make sure to protect your own children by implementing these smart safety measures.Â
- Ensure every member of your family learns to swim—or at least achieve water competency skills. Be able to enter the water, get a breath, stay afloat, change position, swim a distance, and exit the water safely.
- Employ layers of protection, including barriers to prevent access to water, life jackets, and close supervision of children to prevent drowning
- Know what to do in a water emergency—including how to safely assist someone in trouble in the water, call for emergency help, and administer CPR
Robby to the Rescue! Water Safety Month
Did you know that May is National Water Safety Month? In this fun, informative video, Firefighter Robby teams up with Station 53 and EMS Medical Director Dr. Dan Shepherd to talk about how you can make sure everyone stays safe while in the water.Â
Click here to watch MORE Firefighter Robby videos!
Additional Water Safety Resources
Water Safety: Ready, Set, Go!Â
Drowning Prevention Information
SafeKids Resources
 Drowning Prevention FlyerÂ
