As drownings continue to be the leading cause of death among 1- to 4-year-olds, the Consumer Product Safety Commission is urging Americans to be extra vigilant around water.

What You Need To Know

  • Drownings are the leading cause of death among 1- to 4-year-olds; the CPSC is urging Americans to be extra vigilant around water

  • An average of 4,788 children under the age of 5 suffered nonfatal drowning injuries that had to be treated in a hospital emergency room between 2018 and 2020

  • Pool- or spa-related fatal drownings involving children less than 5 years old increased 10% in 2020 to 279

  • Fatal drownings among children younger than 15 were also high, averaging 371 deaths per year between 2018 and 2020

An average of 4,788 children under the age of 5 suffered nonfatal drowning injuries that had to be treated in a hospital emergency room between 2018 and 2020, according to the annual drowning and submersion report the agency released Thursday.

Pool- or spa-related fatal drownings involving children less than 5 years old increased 10% in 2020 to 279.

Fatal drownings and nonfatal drowning injuries among children younger than 15 were also high, averaging 371 deaths per year between 2018 and 2020 and 6,300 injuries that required hospital treatment between 2020 and 2022.

About 80% of reported fatal child drownings occurred in residential settings, including the victim’s home or residence of a family member, friend or neighbor, the report found. African American children accounted for 45% of drowning deaths among children aged 5 to 14 for which race was identified.

“The fatalities from drowning and non-fatal drowning injuries are still high, so water safety vigilance remains crucially important this summer and all year,” CPSC Chair Alex Hoehn-Saric said in a statement.

He urged parents and caregivers to follow the guidelines in the CPSC’s Pool Safely public education campaign:

  • 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.
  • 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.