Sharing water safety facts to help prevent drowning: Enjuris now a Pool Safely Campaign Partner
Every year, the summer starts to heat up and water safety comes to mind. Though important throughout the year, it's inevitable kids will be spending time near the water in the hotter months. We've become a Pool Safely Campaign Partner to help spread the message of water safety to every parent and child.
Water safety facts – a sobering reality
When we think about swimming and spending time in the water, it's usually the good times that come to mind. But did you know:
Water safety accident facts
- Between 2012 and 2014, the majority (77 percent) of reported fatal drowning victims younger than 15 were younger than 5.
- For children younger than 15 years old, more than two-thirds (68 percent) of the reported fatal drowning victims were boys.
- For 2014 through 2016, an estimated average of 5,900 children younger than 15 years old were reported as being treated in hospital emergency rooms for non-fatal drowning injuries in pools or spas.
- Between 2014 and 2016, the majority (74 percent) of children treated in emergency departments for pool- or spa-related, non-fatal drowning injuries were younger than 5 years of age.
- Between 2014 and 2016, residential locations made up 86 percent of fatal reported incidents and at least 55 percent of non-fatal reported drowning incidents for children younger than 5.
- From 2012 through 2016, there were 17 victims of entrapment in 16 incidents, with 82 percent of the incidents involving children younger than 15 years of age (14 victims).
- From those 16 incidents, there were two fatalities, both in residential spas.
- Since the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety went into effect in Dec. 2008, there have been zero entrapment-related deaths involving children in public pools and spas.
How can we prevent drowning?
As a parent, you want to do everything in your power to make sure your child is safe around swimming pools, lakes, rivers and the ocean.
Drownings happen quickly and are often silent – It's not like in the movies, where children are portrayed as splashing and yelling for help. You're not going to have a signal that someone is drowning and be able to jump in and save them like you might think.
Thus, the greatest impact can come from preventing drowning risk in the first place.
"Fatal drownings are preventable, but to prevent these tragedies, we need everyone to always follow simple water safety steps."
– Pool Safely
Pool Safely tells us that installing more and even stronger layers of protection is key to prevention.
- We must prevent young children from being able to get near the water if an adult isn't nearby.
- One layer of protection is 4-sided fencing with a self-closing, self-latching gate around all pools and spas.
Simple water safety steps
Simple steps can save lives. Parents and kids should take action to do the following to help prevent drowning.
Designate a Water Watcher
Watch children every time they are in or around water – supervision is one of the most important things you can do to keep children safe. Designate a Water Watcher – this is an adult whose only job is to watch children when they're in the pool. It's important that they're not distracted by texting or phone calls.
Teach Kids to Swim
While supervision is critical, it's also important for children to learn how to swim. Kids who can't swim face a much higher risk of drowning, so sign your children up for swimming lessons. Your local YMCA or parks and rec department are great places to go for information on swimming lessons – many even offer them for free or at a reduced cost.
Learn CPR
While your children are learning how to swim, it's important for you to learn CPR. In the case of an emergency, bystander CPR can often make a real difference while you're waiting for emergency first responders to arrive at the scene.
Check Drain Covers
Finally, regardless of whether you're swimming in your home pool or visiting a public pool, be sure that the drain covers are not lose or broken. Drains should be “VGB compliant,” which means they meet safety standards. (If you own a pool and you're not sure if your covers are safe, a pool technician can let you know.)
Take the Pool Safely Pledge!
We chose to partner with Pool Safely because of all the simple, actionable steps the campaign provides to equip parents and kids to enjoy better water safety.
One of our favorites is the Pool Safely Pledge. Our entire core team has taken the pledge, and we encourage you to, too!
The Pool Safely Pledge
The Pledge is a call-to-action for everyone to commit to specific steps to be safer in and around the water.
Kids will pledge to never swim alone, ask for swim lessons and stay away from drains.
Adults will pledge to always designate a water watcher, learn CPR, make their kids know how to swim, remove portable pool ladders when not in use and ensure their pools have proper fencing, gates and drain covers.
Visit PoolSafely.gov/pledge to electronically sign the Pledge or to request a hard copy.
More than 50,000 Pool Safely Pledges have been made by adults and kids nationwide to date, including 14 Olympians!
Pool Safely is a national public education campaign from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The number of reported fatal child drownings in swimming pools involving children younger than 5 has decreased 17 percent nationwide since 2010, the year that the Pool Safely campaign launched.
Join us as we raise our voices to keep swimming safe and fun for all
More on water safety for kids and adults alike:
Swimming pool accidents in Texas
Texas leads the nation in pool drowning deaths – access the latest water safety information
Florida swimming pool accidents
Learn about Florida's Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act and more
Swimming safety in Colorado
An overview of swimming accident prevention and what to do if you're considering legal consequences in Colorado
Drowning accident prevention in Georgia
Learn about the importance of swimming accident prevention and what your legal rights are in Georgia