Drowning deaths rise, teach your kids water safety

WESTFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – A new study shows that drowning deaths in the U.S. have increased since 2020.

Accidental drowning deaths happen more than often in the summer. The Roots Athletic Center built its swimming curriculum on navigating the unexpected to prevent any accidents from happening.

Enjoying summer usually involves a dip in the pool. Each year 3,400 people drown and it is the number one leading cause of death for ages one through four.

Jennifer Butler, Aquatics Director at Roots Aquatic and Fitness Center shared with 22News, “So we even talk about, ‘what do you do if you fall in the water with your clothes on?’ and we even do that from a young age at 6 months old so the babies feel the clothing on them, we go up to like the two-year-olds who learn how to swim with their clothes on and then the older kids learn how to float, get back to the wall safely and even learn how to make life jackets out of it.”

From a young age kids are taught what to do from a rip current, they’re taught to swim outward and never towards the beach. Learning how to respect the water is key. Some of the students at the Roots Aquatic and Fitness Center began swimming lessons at the age of 2. Now they are enjoying their summer breaks splashing away.

“I love to learn different dives and try to challenge myself to reach the deep pool,” says Avava Donnachie of Westfield. Other assistance like life jackets should be used to save you from falling out of things, but not save you from swimming, urging parents to be an arm’s length away from non-swimmers.

However, taking a change on the water and learning swimming skills at any age could save your life. Now the aquatics director at Roots, Jennifer — also shared how important it is to leave floaties on for younger children until they are ready, but in the meantime, they can work on their swimming skills.

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