Prevention of Drowning: Technical Report

Drowning is a leading cause of unintentional injury death in children. In 2023, there were 981 US children under age 20 years who died from drowning. There are persisting and widening disparities in pediatric drowning death rates based on race and ethnicity. Multiple layers of prevention are necessary, because no single method is effective in preventing drowning. Proven drowning prevention strategies include 4-sided isolation pool fencing with functioning self-closing and self-latching gates; close, constant, attentive, and competent supervision; swimming competency; life jacket use when boating; and early rescue and resuscitation of persons who drowned. Clinicians have an important role in preventing drowning by providing age- and content-specific anticipatory guidance to their patients and by involving families, community partners, and public health officials when advocating for the implementation of evidence-based drowning countermeasures and culturally-affirming aquatic policies in their community.