Friday May 1st kicked off Water Safety Month. Although there are many awareness holidays around drowning prevention and water safety specifics, May is dedicated to educating families and individuals about how to safely navigate through and around all types of water.
Unintentional drowning is one of the leading causes of death for children under the age of 4. A mere few inches of water is all it takes, and for young children and toddlers even less.
Water safety encompasses more than just drowning awareness and prevention. It can include swim lessons, tips on how to install “layers” of protection around your pool area, how to respond in an emergency, and adjusting your activity to fit the conditions of the water.
The most common tips include:
-
Be alert when you are around pools, lakes, rivers, koi ponds, and even bathtubs
-
Pay attention to the number of people, any lifeguards on duty, the color of people’s swimsuits
-
Never drink and swim
-
Never swim alone
-
Always stay aware-aware of the water conditions, weather conditions, who is swimming, who is struggling, etc.
- Do not allow young children to play or sit in hot tubs unattended-it is harder for their little bodies to regulate in those higher temperatures, and the water disturbance can make it hard to see if a bather is struggling.
There are countless online resources available for those who wish to learn more. Some that we have found very helpful are from The American Red Cross, and from Pentair, a pool equipment company.
Denscot also offers free educational brochures written and produced by the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA), of which we are a member. The next time you visit our Retail Center, ask our store staff about the different brochures we offer, or resources we can recommend.
While we are still waiting on official numbers to be released for 2025, we do know that in the United States alone, there are on average between 4,000 and 4,500 accidental drownings a year, and the rates are increasing. Not all drownings are fatal, but all drownings are preventable. Together, we can promote water competency and safety, and end drowning.
