06/28/2026
I'm heartbroken by the recent drownings of two children this weekend. There are no words that can ease the pain these families are experiencing. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone who is grieving.
As we hold these families close in our hearts, let's also honor these precious lives by having an important conversation about water safety.
This weekend's heartbreaking drownings are a devastating reminder that drowning can happen to any family, drowning does not discriminate, it happens quickly and quietly. My heart goes out to the families, friends, and communities forever changed by these unimaginable losses.
Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1β4 in the United States, and the second leading cause of unintentional injury death for children ages 5β14. Most drownings involving children ages 1β4 occur in swimming pools.
Water safety requires multiple layers of protection because no single measure is enough.
π Constant, distraction-free adult supervision whenever children are near water. π A four-sided pool fence with a self-closing, self-latching gate. π Door and pool alarms to alert you if a child gains access to the water. π Swim survival lessons that teach children how to roll onto their back, float, and reach safety if they unexpectedly enter the water. π CPR training for parents, grandparents, caregivers, and anyone supervising children.
Swim survival lessons do not replace supervision, but they provide children with valuable life-saving skills that can make the difference in an emergency. Combined with barriers like fences and alarms, they create layers of protection that save lives.
If sharing this message encourages even one family to install a fence, check their pool alarms, enroll their child in swim survival lessons, or refresh their CPR skills, then these conversations matter.
Please hug your little ones a little tighter today, keep watch around the water, and help spread awareness. Together, we can work to prevent another family from experiencing this unimaginable heartbreak. π