May is National Water Safety Month, and Aqua-Tots Swim Schools is setting out to educate families on the importance of water safety this summer.
“Drowning is the No.1 cause of death for children under the age of four and the second leading cause for children up to 14,” according to the CDC, as cited by Aqua-Tots in a press release.
In a video, the swim instructing company set out to teach kids and parents the “ABCs” of drowning prevention and swimming safety.
“A” stands for adult supervision. An adult should always be close by when children are near the water and should always be attentive.
“B” stands for barriers. Backyard pools should be fenced off, have doors that close and latch automatically, and ideally have a lock as well. Most drowning incidents occur when children are not expected to be in the water.
“C” stands for classes. Formal swim lessons can help kids become confident swimmers.
Craig Wright, the CEO of Aqua-Tots Swim Schools, stated in the press release that drowning is preventable.
“By teaching the ABCs of Water Safety, we can help create an environment where every child can enjoy a safe and fun-filled summer,” said Wright.
There have already been 11 child drownings in Texas this year, according to statistics from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, last updated on March 29. Most of these fatalities occurred in children 3 years old or younger, and most occurred in backyard pools.
In 2022, 76 children died as a result of drowning. Five of these children were from Dallas County, and around 62% of these fatalities involved children 3 years old and younger.
Thankfully, the number of fatalities has been declining every year since 2018, when 91 children drowned, four of which were in Dallas.
According to the DFPS website, “Drowning is a leading cause of accidental death for kids under the age of five and toddlers are especially at risk.”