Playing in and around water can be a fun family activity — but it can also be deadly. Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death for young children. Help reduce childhood drowning by being aware of the potential risks and prevent unsupervised access to bodies of water. Drowning prevention is everyone's responsibility, and you can help. We encourage you to never swim alone.
In Southern California, drowning prevention and water safety should be practiced on a year-round basis with special emphasis during the summer months. Click to learn more about the ABC's of drowning prevention.
Drowning Prevention for Kids:
- Always keep children within arm’s reach
- Remove items that a child could climb on to get over a fence and into a pool area
- Designate a water watcher; someone who is free of distraction and can focus on those in the water
- Install and maintain proper barriers around the pool and spa areas such as fences, gates, doors, alarms and safety covers
- If a child goes missing, ALWAYS check the water first
Drowning Prevention for Adults:
- Never swim alone
- Learn to swim
- Learn CPR
- Wear a life vest if you are not a strong swimmer
Did you know?
- In 2019, Orange County had a total of 114 drowning incidents. There were 33 incidents involving children between 0-4 years old and 33 incidents involving adults over 50.
- Children can drown in less than 2 inches of water.
- Most drowning incidents for adults are a result of a medical condition or intoxication.
- Less than 1/3 of adults can swim the length of a pool which is why you should always swim with a buddy.
- In 2019, most drownings occurred at the beach or the bay.
- Once under water, an infant loses consciousness in 30 seconds or less, a child within 2 minutes.