AZ fatal child drownings are up 100% compared to 2020
Nationwide drownings are up 30% compared to Summer 2020
WASHINGTON, D.C. (KYMA, KECY) - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announces Wednesday the total drownings for 2021's "swim season" (May 28 - August 31) across the nation.
According to data compiled by the USA Swimming Foundation and calculated by CPSC's Pool Safely campaign, at least 110 children under age 15 fatally drowned in pools or spas.
Data collectors say this is a 30% increase compared to the 2020 swim season, which tracked 85 deaths.
Arizona reported at least 16 fatal child pool/spa drownings. This up 100% from the 2020 season, when eight deaths were documented.
RELATED: Brothers ages 1 and 2 drown in swimming pool
CPSC’s Pool Safely campaign recommends the following to reduce drownings:
- Never leave a child unattended in a pool or spa and always watch your children closely around all bodies of water.
- Designate a Water Watcher to supervise children in the pool or spa. This person should not be reading, using a smart phone or be otherwise distracted.
- Learn how to swim and teach your child how to swim.
- Learn how to perform CPR on children and adults.
- 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, and if you do not know, ask your pool service provider about safe drain covers and ask your public pool if their drains are “VGB compliant.”
- Join the 90,000+ others and take the Pool Safely Pledge before spending time in or near the water.
Families can click here for additional water safety tips on how to remain vigilant about drowning prevention all year 'round.
