Layers of Protection are Best Defense against Drowing

Layers of Protection Are BEST DEFENSE against Drowning

So far, 2021 has seen a spike in drownings around the United States and many areas of the country are on pace for a record-breaking year, unfortunately.

“While it is difficult to discuss national trends since data isn’t readily available from all areas of the country, a scary picture is developing with the early data we have access to,” says Adam Katchmarchi, Ph.D., EMT-B, executive director of the National Drowning Prevention Alliance. “The Florida Department of Children and Families has reported 66 fatal childhood (under 18 years old) drownings so far in 2021. This is a 46 percent increase over this same time in 2020 and a 65 percent increase over this same time in 2019. At this current pace, Florida is on track for the most childhood drownings in the last 12 years.”

Many are looking for a cause for this sudden and dramatic increase in drownings. There are many theories, including the lack of swimming lessons availability during the COVID-19 pandemic, the increase in use of residential pools, and the ongoing swim instructor and lifeguard shortage.

“While each of those issues are likely contributing to the problem, we don’t know what the direct cause is just yet,” explains Dr. Katchmarchi. “How do we attack the problem without knowing the exact root cause? Without direct answers to the cause of the increase, we must use our existing prevention strategies.”

The National Drowning Prevention Alliance (NDPA) highlights the use of layers of protection to reduce the risk of drowning for everyone around water. Layers of protection involves the use of multiple safety strategies and tools that work together to prevent drowning. Layers include barriers that prevent or limit access to water, learning to swim/gaining water competency, supervision from adult caregivers and lifeguards, teaching everyone to be competent in water, and being ready to respond