Medical professionals and public health officials are raising concerns over a recent increase in child drowning deaths across the United States, warning of the urgent need for enhanced prevention efforts. Despite past decades of progress, the trend in drowning fatalities among children has reversed, with rates rising in recent years.

Each year, approximately 4,000 to 5,000 Americans drown, most of them adults in natural water settings such as lakes and oceans. However, drowning remains a leading cause of death among children, especially those between the ages of 1 and 4, where it ranks as the number one cause of fatal injury. The risk varies across demographics, with white children experiencing higher drowning rates in the youngest age group, while Black, American Indian, and Alaska Native children face increased risk in older childhood.

Drownings in very young children often involve bathtubs, but swimming pools account for the majority of incidents, highlighted by the tragic case of Stewie Leonard, the 21-month-old son of Stew Leonard, CEO of the eponymous grocery chain. Stewie drowned during a 1989 family gathering on the Caribbean island of St. Martin, prompting his parents to establish a foundation dedicated to financing swimming lessons and promoting water safety. They emphasize the crucial importance of vigilant supervision, noting that multiple adults were present yet no one was actively watching Stewie at the time of the accident.

From the 1980s through the early 2000s, child drowning fatalities in the U.S. fell significantly due to public education, swimming instruction, and pool safety legislation such as fencing mandates. Rates declined by approximately 38% between 2000 and 2019. However, data show a reversal with child drowning deaths rising from 756 in 2019 to 865 in 2024, the most recent year with complete data available. The increase is mainly among children under five years old, with the child drowning death rate rising slightly from 1.1 to 1.2 per 100,000.

Public health experts attribute this reversal in part to the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted swimming lesson programs and lifeguard training, leading to a nationwide shortage of trained lifeguards. Additionally, increased pool construction and more frequent unsupervised swimming may have contributed. Tessa Clemens, senior director of drowning prevention initiatives at the CDC Foundation, emphasized these factors, while Kym Roberts, an Australian drowning researcher, pointed out that limited supervision often plays a critical role in young children's drownings.

While preliminary data from 2024 hint at a possible decline in child drowning deaths, it remains too early to determine if a sustained downward trend is emerging. Meanwhile, innovations such as immersion alarm devices worn on children's wrists provide supplementary safety measures but are not replacements for active supervision.

Although the CDC disbanded its drowning prevention program staff last year, organizations like the CDC Foundation and the American Academy of Pediatrics continue to advance guidelines and educational campaigns. The CDC Foundation’s program has provided swimming and water safety training to over 35,000 children across 11 states with elevated drowning rates, including Alaska, California, Florida, and Texas.

Experts advocate for a multipronged approach to reducing drownings, including enforcing lifeguard standards, mandating life jacket use, and requiring secure pool fencing. Stew Leonard underscores the importance of formal swimming lessons combined with undistracted adult supervision, stressing that caregivers must eliminate distractions like cell phones or socializing when children are near water.

“This happens in the blink of an eye,” Leonard said, emphasizing that vigilance and education remain critical to preventing more tragedies. His foundation has funded more than 250,000 swimming lessons and opened two swimming schools, striving to protect children from drowning risks nationwide.