CPSC's report addresses nonfatal drownings for the period 2021 through 2023
and fatal drownings for the period 2019 through 2021, reflecting a lag in the
reporting of fatal drowning statistics.
CPSC's latest data show the following for children in the U.S. younger than
15 years of age:
- Between
2019 and 2021, there was an average of 358 pool- or spa-related fatal
drownings reported per year and 75% of those victims were younger than 5
years of age.
- The
number of fatal child drownings in 2021 was 380, a 12 percent increase
from the 339 fatal drownings reported in the previous year.
- Between
2021 and 2023, there was an average of 6,500 estimated pool- or
spa-related, hospital emergency department (ED)-treated, nonfatal drowning
injuries each year.
Additionally, the report highlighted specific drowning hazards for children
under 5 years of age:
- In
2023, 77 percent of all estimated pool- or spa-related, ED-treated,
nonfatal drowning injuries involved children younger than 5 years of age.
- Between
2019 and 2021, there was an average of 269 pool- or spa-related fatal
drownings for children under 5, roughly 75 percent of the total average
number of fatal drownings for all children under 15.
"Children can drown quickly and silently and the increase in drownings
for this age group is a sobering reminder of how prevalent these tragedies
are," said CPSC Chair Alex Hoehn-Saric. "Parents and caregivers
should never let their guard down around water, that means installing layers of
protection, like fencing, alarms, pool covers, and self-latching features to
keep unsupervised kids from accessing the water."
READ MORE: 4 tips for summer water safety
Where location was known, 81 percent of fatal drownings involving children
under age 15 occurred in a residential setting, including at the victim's home,
or at the home of a family member, friend, or neighbor.
The report also highlights the continuing trend of racial disparities in
drowning fatalities. Out of the 71 percent of drowning fatalities involving
children under age 15 whose race was specified, African American children made
up 23 percent of all drownings, higher than 15 percent of the population for
that age.
For drowning fatalities among children aged 5 to 14, 45 percent of drowning
deaths involved African Americans where race was identified. These numbers
highlight the importance of reaching historically excluded communities with
water safety information and support.
Parents and caregivers can follow Pool Safely's simple steps to keep children
safer in and around the water:
- Never leave a child unattended in or near water, and
always designate an adult Water Watcher. This person should not be
reading, texting, using a phone or being otherwise distracted. In addition
to pools and spas, this warning includes bathtubs, buckets, decorative
ponds, and fountains.
- If you own a pool or spa, install layers of protection,
including barriers to prevent an unsupervised child from accessing the
water. Homes can use door alarms, pool covers, and self-closing,
self-latching devices on fence gates and doors that access pools.
- Learn how to perform CPR on children and adults. Many
communities offer online CPR training.
- Learn how to swim and teach your child how to swim.
- Keep children away from pool drains, pipes, and other
openings to avoid entrapments.
- Ensure
any pool and spa you use has drain covers that comply with federal safety
standards. If you do not know, ask your pool service provider about safer
drain covers.
You can read the full CPSC drowning and entrapment reports by visiting PoolSafely.gov.
Pool Safely, a national public education campaign
supporting the requirements of Section 1407 of the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety, works with collaborators around the country to reduce
child drownings, nonfatal drownings and entrapment incidents in swimming pools
and spas. Parents, caregivers and the media are encouraged to visit: PoolSafely.gov or to follow Pool Safely on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and X for vital safety information regarding the prevention
of child drownings in and around pools and spas.
For more information, contact Nikki Fleming in CPSC's Office of
Communications at nfleming@cpsc.gov.
Individual Commissioners may have statements related to this topic. Please
visit www.cpsc.gov/commissioners to search for statements
related to this or other topics.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting
the public from unreasonable risk of injury or death associated with the use of
thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage
from consumer product-related incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion
annually. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products has contributed
to a decline in the rate of injuries associated with consumer products over the
past 50 years.
Federal law prohibits any person from selling products subject to a
Commission ordered recall or a voluntary recall undertaken in consultation with
the CPSC.
For lifesaving
information: