Drownings Up After Decades Of Decline: Swimming And Water Safety Guide

ACROSS AMERICA — Memorial Day is the unofficial start to summer and the swimming and beach season. Summer is a favorite time of year for many Americans, but also a dangerous one.

For one thing, drowning deaths are increasing in the United States following decades of decline, according to a new Vital Signs study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 4,500 people died due to drowning each year from 2020 to 2022, 500 more per year compared to 2019.

There are other dangers as well, some well-known and others more obscure. Rip currents, sharks and even something as idyllic as building a sand castle can turn a day at the beach into tragedy. Drunken boaters are a problem, too, accounting for 88 deaths, or 16 percent of boating fatalities in 2022, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

Here are seven things to know about summer beach and swimming pool safety:

Swimming Lessons Prevent Deaths

One of the best things people can do to prepare for the swimming season is to make sure everyone in the party knows how to swim before heading to the water, according to the CDC, which said the increase in drowning fatalities is closely tied to access to water safety classes.

Drowning is the leading cause of death among U.S. children ages 1-4, according to the CDC, and drowning rates were highest in kids that age. But, the agency said, more than 40 million U.S. adults (15.4 percent) don’t know how to swim, and more than half (54.7 percent) have never had a swimming lesson.

Fatal drowning rates were higher among minority communities, who may not have access to water safety classes. The CDC study revealed only 28 percent of Hispanic people and 37 percent of Black people have taken swimming lessons.

“CDC’s drowning prevention experts collected high-quality drowning data to better understand how we can protect people in communities across the United States,” Dr. Debra Houry, the CDC’s chief medical officer, said in a statement. “Understanding the barriers people face to accessing basic swimming and water safety skills training can help us better understand how to address those barriers, decrease drowning rates, and save lives.”

Here are some resources for affordable swimming lessons for people of all ages:

• Swim classes and training, American Red Cross
• YMCA of the USA
• US Swim Schools
• USA Swimming

Know What Drowning Looks Like

It’s also important to know what drowning looks like — and what it doesn’t look like. Forget the dramatic scenes of people widely flailing their arms and frantically calling for help that you’ve seen on TV and in the movies.

Real-life drowning happens quietly, without flailing arms and frantic calls for help. People can't simply stop drowning long enough to take in a breath of air and call for help.

If you have a swimming pool, make sure the gates are secure and kids can’t access or unlock them. Fences should be at least 4 feet high and fully enclose and separate the pool from the house.

Kids should be supervised at all times — and no looking down at the cellphone the entire time they’re in the pool or at the beach. Also, the CDC, said, alcohol impairs judgment, balance and coordination. “Do not drink alcohol while supervising children” or before or while swimming, boating, or engaging in other water activities, the CDC said.

Also, the agency said, that learning CPR skills is critical for people who spend time around the water and could save someone’s life in the time it takes for paramedics to arrive.

Life Jackets Save Lives

Boating accidents were down about 9 percent and fatalities down by 3.3 percent from 2021 to 2022, according to the most recent data available from the U.S. Coast Guard, with collisions with other watercraft and stationary objects as the leading causes of boating deaths.

In addition to warning against the dangers of drinking while boating, the Coast Guard and CDC emphasize the importance of wearing life jackets, regardless of age or swimming ability.

About 75 percent of people killed in 2022 boating collisions drowned, and among those, about 85 percent were not wearing life jackets, the Coast Guard said.

Before You Launch The Boat …

Before launching your boat, be sure you are confident and comfortable at the helm.

There are many live, virtual and hybrid boating safety education classes available through the U.S. Coast Guard and a number of private boating education providers. For a list of educational resources, check out the National Boating Safety Media Resource Center.

It’s also a good idea to install an engine cutoff switch, or ECOS, an onboard safety device that is connected to the boat’s captain. Should the driver fall out of the boat, the ECOS will immediately stop the boat’s engine. Learn more about the inexpensive device.

Before you leave the dock, tell friends, family or staff at the marina the names of all aboard, including contact information cell phone numbers. Be sure to include a planned itinerary complete with your destination, stops along the route and your estimated return time.

Know the forecast before you head out. Be sure to download a weather app on your phone and keep tabs on it regularly. If the weather turns severe, do not stay on the water — find shelter as soon as possible.

Should everyone remain seated while the boat is moving? Tell your passengers this before you leave the dock. Should everyone be wearing a life jacket? Communicate this, too. Set expectations and make the rules clear before you start the boat’s motor.

If your boat can only hold six passengers, do not invite a seventh. If it has a weight limit, be sure to take coolers, gear, water toys and other cargo into account. If you overload your boat, you increase the risk of it capsizing.

Just as you do on the freeway with other motorists, you should keep an eye on other boaters at all times.

If you’re new to boating, you might want to avoid setting sail on one of the busiest boating weekends of the year. However, if you insist on spending Memorial Day weekend on the water, head for less-crowded areas and avoid popular beaches and congested venues.

Also, follow posted speed limits and no-wake zones, and be especially careful when boating at night. If you plan to be out on the water past sunset, make sure all your navigation and running lights are operational. Again, avoid drinking alcohol — it can further impair your senses and visibility.

Watch For Rip Currents

Rip currents, often called “drowning machines,” are powerful, channeled currents of water flowing away from the shore and extending through the surf zone and past the line of breaking waves, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

They can occur at any beach with breaking waves, including the Great Lakes, and usually form in low spots or breaks in sandbars and near structures such as jetties and piers.

About 80 percent of rescues performed by beach lifeguards are related to rip currents, according to the U.S. Lifesaving Association, which estimates more than 100 people a year die in rip current accidents.

Signs that a rip current is present can be very subtle and difficult to identify, especially with rough seas. They can be spotted when waters are calmer, especially from vantage points higher than the water’s edge. Look for:

• A narrow gap of darker, seemingly calmer water flanked by areas of breaking waves and whitewater.
• A channel of churning/choppy water that is distinct from surrounding water
• A difference in water color, such as an area of muddy-appearing water (which occurs from sediment and sand being carried away from the beach).
• A consistent area of foam or seaweed being carried through the surf.

Be Careful Digging In The Sand

The death earlier this year of a young girl digging in the sand on a Florida beach with her brother was a wake-up call about the dangers on the beach. Between three and five children a year die digging sand holes.

Between three and five children a year die in sand hole collapses, The Associated Press reported, citing a 2007 medical study and news reports. The authors of the study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, said the risk of a sand hole accident is “enormously deceptive because of its association with relaxed recreational settings not generally regarded as hazardous.”

Sandcastles don’t require a lot of digging, and experts advise against digging any holes in the sand. But they say the maximum size to avoid a sand collapse is 2 feet. Parents should monitor their children, stop them if they dig too deep and fill the holes before leaving the beach.

Shark Phobia Is Fairly Unreasonable, But …

Sharks gained a nasty reputation in box office blockbusters such as “Jaws” and others, casting the apex predators as villains. With their serrated, dagger-like teeth, they do look menacing — and that image alone can fuel galeophobia, or the fear of sharks.

As phobias go, the likelihood of this one playing out is fairly unreasonable. The sharks don’t really want to eat you. And if they did, they’d swim upward and scoop you up in a single bite, rather than nibble to see if you taste good. (For the record, you don’t. There literally are far tastier fish in the ocean.)

But the chances of being bitten by a shark are about 1 in 3.75 million, according to the International Wildlife Museum. The University of Florida's International Shark Attack File lists 1,596 recorded unprovoked shark attacks in the United States since 1837. Attacks most commonly occurred off beaches in Florida, which has seen 912 attacks since counting began.
Hawaii, California and South Carolina have each seen between 100 and 200 shark attacks since 1837.

Sharks are most active at dawn, dusk and nighttime. Signs they may be nearby include large groups of fish, seals and sea lions, which are part of sharks’ preferred diets.

But they may be attracted to high-contrast clothing, including the bright oranges and yellows that have proven to be risky colors, and to shiny jewelry that may resemble fish scales.

If you see a shark, don’t provoke or harass it, even if it’s small. Leave the water immediately. There are other things you can do to avoid a shark attack, including staying out of the water if you’re bleeding. Women and girls who are having their periods should sit it out on the beach, too, according to National Geographic, which has a full list of precautions.

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