Drowning Clock

Every year in the United States there are an estimated:

• 4,500* fatal unintentional drownings—that is an average of 12 drowning deaths per day.

• 8,000† nonfatal drownings—that is an average of 22 nonfatal drownings per day.

As of November 1, 2024, comprehensive national statistics on drowning incidents for the current year are not yet available. Historically, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that over 4,500 people died due to drowning each year from 2020 to 2022, marking an increase of approximately 500 deaths per year compared to 2019.

In California, drowning rates have varied across counties. For instance, Los Angeles County reported 50 drowning deaths in 2022, while San Diego County had 30. These figures highlight the importance of water safety measures, especially in regions with high water activity.

To reduce the risk of drowning, the CDC recommends:

• Learning basic swimming and water safety skills.

• Ensuring constant supervision of children near water.

• Installing barriers, such as four-sided fencing, around pools.

• Wearing life jackets when boating or participating in water sports.

• Avoiding alcohol consumption when swimming or supervising swimmers.

Implementing these precautions can significantly decrease the likelihood of drowning incidents.

Groups already at higher risk saw the greatest increases in drowning deaths: children 1-4 years old and adults 65 years and older of all races and ethnicities, as well as Black people of all ages.

Drowning is the number one cause of death for children 1-4 years old in the United States. Today’s study shows that drowning rates were highest among this age group. By race and ethnicity, the highest drowning rates were among non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native and non-Hispanic Black persons.

Making swimming lessons accessible can save lives. Almost 40 million adults (15.4%) in the United States do not know how to swim and over half (54.7%) have never taken a swimming lesson. More than 1 in 3 (36.8%) Black adults reported they do not know how to swim compared to 15% of all adults. Additionally, 2 in 3 Black adults (63%) and 3 in 4 Hispanic adults (72%) reported never taking a swimming lesson. Research suggests the difference in self-reported swimming ability may be linked to differences in access to swimming lessons or other historical and social factors. For example, swimming lessons may be too expensive or not available in some communities, some may fear water, or others may feel uncomfortable wearing traditional swimwear.

Source: CDC