By rssfeeds-admin 
The health department announced Thursday that eight children under the age of five have accidentally drowned in pools across the Commonwealth so far in 2025. This is an increase in drownings across Virginia over the last three years.
Officials noted that in 2024, three young children drowned, in 2023, two children drowned and in 2022, four children drowned.
“The tragic rise in drowning deaths of young children demands that we all become extra vigilant about pool safety,” said VDH Chief Deputy Commissioner for Community Health Services Susan Fischer Davis, MD.
From 2022 to 2024, an estimated average of 6,300 children under 15 years old were treated each year at emergency departments for drowning-related injuries. About 73% of those patients were under five years old.
Health officials added that drowning is the leading cause of death among kids, ages one to four.
Ways to prevent children from drowning
As the state continues to see a rise in drownings among kids, the health department is urging families to take a “Pool Safety Pledge” when visiting pools, lakes, beaches or any body of water. The pledge reinforces simple and life-saving safety practices.
For adults, the pledge is a commitment to:
- Designating a water watcher every single time children in their care are in or near the water.
- Making sure their kids know how to swim.
- Learning CPR.
- Always remove portable pool ladders when not in use.
- Ensure all permanent pools have a proper fence and gate and anti-entrapment drain covers.
For children, the pledge includes reminders to:
- Never swim alone.
- Ask their parents to sign them up for swimming lessons.
- Stay away from drains in the pool or hot tub.
- Have fun and always follow these safety steps in and around the water.
For more information about water safety, click here.
Discover more from RSS Feeds Cloud
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.