5 Factors That Increase The Risk Of Drowning In Colorado

Families across Colorado are getting their pools ready and packing their beach bags in preparation for hot weekends ahead, but parents have to remain vigilant and make sure their kids aren't left unsupervised around water, federal public health officials warn.

Drowning causes more deaths among children 1 to 4 than any other cause except birth defects, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Drowning is the second-highest cause of accidental death for children under age 14 in the United States, the CDC finds.

These factors can increase the risk of drowning:

No swimming ability

Formal swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning among children ages 1 to 4, according to the CDC.

No or few barriers

Most children ages 1 to 4 drown in home swimming pools. Pool fencing and other barriers can prevent young children from getting to a pool area while unsupervised.

A four-sided fence that separates the pool area from the house and yard reduces a child's risk of drowning by 83 percent compared to three-sided property-line fencing, according to the CDC.

Don’t miss the latest news updates in Denver, Boulder, Arvada, Lakewood and Littleton. Sign up for free Patch news alerts and newsletters for what you need to know daily.

No close supervision

Drowning can happen quickly and quietly anywhere there is water, including bathtubs or buckets, the CDC said.

No life jacket

Under Colorado law, all children under the age of 13 must wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket at all times while in a boat.

No CPR

Parents and caretakers should learn CPR, which will allow them to take immediate action and save a child's life before paramedics arrive. The quicker CPR is started, the better the child's chance of surviving.

>> Find out more information about pool and water safety at the CDC.

Patch Editor William Bornhoft contributed to this report.