#1
Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1–4.
It happens most often in home pools, and layers of protection help prevent it.
The facts
Every number on this page is a child.
One of them is ours. We link to the source for every number, skip the viral ones nobody can trace, and end with what works.
Young children
376
Children under 15 who drown in a pool or spa each year, on average (2021–2023).
Nearly 80% of them were younger than 5.
Source: CPSC, 2026 report (source for “376”, opens in a new tab)
Toddlers
Toddlers are at the highest risk of drowning.
They can slip away without anyone noticing, even under the best of circumstances.
Source: American Academy of Pediatrics, 2026 (source for “Toddlers”, opens in a new tab)
Across the country
4,500+
Lives lost to unintentional drowning each year in the U.S. (2020–2022).
That’s about 500 more each year than in 2019.
Source: CDC Vital Signs, 2024 (source for “4,500+”, opens in a new tab)
#2
Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional-injury death for children ages 5–14, after car crashes.
7.6×
Black children ages 10–14 drown in swimming pools at 7.6 times the rate of White children (1999–2019).
Nonfatal drowning
Many children survive a drowning. Some recover completely. Others, like Adam, live with injuries that last a lifetime, such as brain injury or permanent disability.
8,000+
Emergency department visits for nonfatal drowning in the U.S. each year (2012–2021 average).
~40%
Nearly 4 in 10 drownings treated in emergency departments need a hospital stay or transfer for more care. That’s 3 times the rate for other unintentional injuries.
5,900
Children under 15 treated in an emergency room each year after a nonfatal drowning in a pool or spa (estimated, 2023–2025).
Source: CPSC, 2026 report (source for “5,900”, opens in a new tab)
How it happens
Silent
Drowning happens in seconds and is often silent.
There is usually no splashing or calling for help. Young children can drown in an inch or two of water.
Source: CDC; American Academy of Pediatrics (source for “Silent”, opens in a new tab)
69%
Of young children who drowned in pools weren’t expected to be at or in the pool.
And 77% had been missing for 5 minutes or less (CPSC study of pool drownings in Arizona, California and Florida).
Source: CPSC Publication 359 (source for “69%”, opens in a new tab)
What protects children
The good news: drowning is preventable, and the layers of protection work best together.
83%
Lower odds of drowning with a fence that isolates the pool on all four sides, compared with three-sided fencing.
When the house is one side of the fence, a toddler can walk straight out the back door to the water.
Source: Cochrane review (Thompson & Rivara) (source for “83%”, opens in a new tab)
Arm’s reach
Toddlers and weak swimmers need an adult within arm’s reach, “touch supervision,” whenever they’re in or near water.
Name a Water Watcher so there’s never a question of who’s watching.
Source: American Academy of Pediatrics (source for “Arm’s reach”, opens in a new tab)
Age 1+
Swim lessons after a child’s first birthday are linked to a lower drowning risk for young children.
The benefit is real but hard to size precisely, and lessons never replace supervision or barriers.
Source: AAP; Brenner et al., 2009 (source for “Age 1+”, opens in a new tab)
CPR
Fast CPR with rescue breaths matters after a drowning. Our mom, Shannon, started CPR on Adam right away.
In an emergency, call 911. Take an infant and child CPR class, and renew it every two years.
Source: American Heart Association & AAP, 2024 (source for “CPR”, opens in a new tab)
A note on words.We say nonfatal drowning, not “near-drowning.” And “dry drowning” and “secondary drowning” aren’t medical terms. If a child has trouble breathing, keeps coughing, or seems unusually sleepy or confused after being in the water, get medical care right away.
Facts don’t save lives. People do.
You’ve read the numbers. Now go check your doors.