Healthy Kids: Swim safety as drownings near record in Colorado

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Colorado Parks and Wildlife says 26 confirmed drownings have happened so far this year. Putting us on track to possibly break the record of 34 drownings that happened in 2020.

"Drowning is the leading cause of preventable death in kids ages 1-4," says Amanda Abramczyk-Thill, the injury prevention and outreach coordinator at Children's Hospital Colorado However, it's also a challenge for all kids of all ages."

Drowning is one of the leading causes of death globally for children and people under 24 years old. Every year, an estimated 236,000 people drown. In Colorado, 90 percent of all fatal drownings happen in open bodies of water according to officials. Many of which, involve kids.

"In El Paso County between 2016-2020 around 16 percent of our drowning deaths were kids that were 14-years-old or younger as well so it is important to know it is a risk for all ages," says Abramczyk-Thill.

Abramczyk-Thill says group settings can be especially dangerous for children. She recommends adults watch in shifts, even if there's a lifeguard on duty.

"If they are in any source of water whether it be a pool or open water, you always want to have your eye on them," says Abramczyk-Thill. "Make sure you are supervising them and it is recommended to have a designated water watcher. If you have a group of kids or multiple adults it is good to do 15 minutes a piece."

According to Drennen's Dream, a national water safety and drowning prevention foundation based in Centennial, most of Colorado's drownings could have been prevented by wearing a life jacket.

"It is important if you are doing water activities to also wear a proper life jacket," says Abramczyk-Thill. "Make sure it fits right and is appropriate for your weight. You want to make sure all the buckles are secure it fits snugly and especially on a child you want to lift that life jacket up and make sure it doesn't reach their chin or their ears and you want it to be U.S. Coast Guard approved."

Parents are advised to talk to their kids about water safety frequently and to sign them up for swim lessons. Another reminder is to never dive into open water. That can be extremely dangerous because it's hard to know how deep the water is. Every year, people are killed of left seriously injured from diving in and hitting their heads.