Drowning statistics

• Drowning is the number two leading cause of accidental death in the U.S. among children 14 and under, and the leading cause of death of children age 5 and under.
  American Institute of Preventive Medicine



• A child can drown in the time it takes to answer the phone.
  U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission



• Of all preschoolers who drown, 70% are missing from sight for five minutes or less.
  National Center for Injury Prevention and Control



• For every child who drowns, four are hospitalized and 16 receive emergency department care for near drowning.
  American Academy of Pediatrics



• Of preschooler pool drownings, 65% occur in the child's home pool and 33% at the homes of friends, neighbors or relatives.
  U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Tips from the National Spa and Pool Institute

• Never take your eyes off a child when he or she is in or near water, even for a second.
• Don't allow barriers, such as fences or walls, to give you a false sense of security. There is no substitute for constant supervision.
• Keep all toys, tricycles, and other children's playthings out o the water and away from the pool or spa.
• Don't consider your children to be "drown-proof" just because they've had swimming or "water orientation" lessons.
• Don't rely on "water-wings" or other inflatable devices to keep your children afloat. They are not substitutes for constant supervision.

• Make sure your pool or spa has effective barriers - such as fence, wall, locked door, cover or alarm - that guard against unsupervised access, particularly by young children.
• Make sure doors and windows leading to the pool or spa area are kept closed and are never propped open, or are equipped with exit alarms. Gates should have self-closing, self-latching mechanisms. Latches should be out of reach of young children and kept in proper working order.
• Your pool or spa should always have well-maintained barriers or "layers of safety."
• Always drain standing water off the pool or spa cover.