Even though we have good weather year round in Southern California, summer is still the time we think of when it comes to swimming. Across the United States, on average, six people a day will die this summer from drowning. Los Angeles residents are as at risk of drowning as any other group. Nearly every week this summer, the Los Angeles Fire Department has pulled a child or adult from the bottom of a pool. In many cases, these children had been left alone for less than one minute.

The Los Angeles Fire Department is just one agency that responds to reports of drowning. More often than not, drowning is an accident that can be avoided if we take the necessary precautions, learn to swim, and most importantly, NEVER let children in the water unattended.

Learn to be "WaterSmart:LA!" Learn about Water Safety:

MySafe:LA and LAFD Pool Safety PSA [ video ]

Child Safety Around Water [ read now ]

Pool Safety Information [ read now ], [ download PDF ], [ download Spanish PDF ]

Drowning Prevention Tip Sheet [ download PDF ], [ download Spanish PDF ]

Drowning Prevention Resources [ outside web links ]

Here are some sobering facts about drowning:

It is estimated that for each drowning death, there are one to four nonfatal near-drownings serious enough to result in hospitalization. Children who still require cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) at the time they arrive at the emergency department have a poor prognosis, with at least half of survivors suffering significant neurological impairment.
American Academy of Pediatrics

19% of drowning deaths involving children occur in public pools with certified lifeguards present.
Drowning Prevention Foundation

A swimming pool is 14 times more likely than a motor vehicle to be involved in the death of a child age 4 and under.
Orange County California Fire Authority

Children under five and adolescents between the ages of 15-24 have the highest drowning rates.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

An estimated 5,000 children ages 14 and under are hospitalized due to unintentional drowning-related incidents each year; 15 percent die in the hospital and as many as 20 percent suffer severe, permanent neurological disability.
National Safety Council

Of all preschoolers who drown, 70 percent are in the care of one or both parents at the time of the drowning and 75 percent are missing from sight for five minutes or less.
Orange County, CA, Fire Authority

The majority of children who survive (92 percent) are discovered within two minutes following submersion, and most children who die (86 percent) are found after 10 minutes. Nearly all who require cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) die or are left with severe brain injury.
National Safe Kids Campaign

MySafe:LA encourages everyone to have fun this summer. Playing in the surf, or the pool, is a terrific way to spend the day. But take a moment to ensure you're taking the proper precautions. The most important thing to remember is always use the buddy system. Swim with a friend. And, if there are kids involved, always have an adult on hand to act as your lifeguard. It could save a life.