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Drowning deaths peak in July; How to have a safe Fourth of July weekend
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by
Brent Thomas
Story by Jolie Rodriguez for WPBF
As the nation celebrates America’s 250th birthday, many people are preparing to spend the Fourth of July weekend by the water. Safety experts say that while beaches and pools are popular holiday destinations, drownings can happen quickly and often silently.
The holiday weekend is one of the busiest of the summer, and water safety advocates say the most important safety tool is not something people bring with them, but their full attention.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, accidental drownings peak in July. Experts say the danger often comes from distractions and a false sense of security, especially during gatherings where multiple adults may assume someone else is watching the water.
They warn drowning can happen in seconds and is often much quieter than many people expect, making constant supervision critical, particularly for children.
“Watching the children first with arm’s reach, so you can be available, then put all the safety barriers around — the fences, alarms — and a water watcher, assigning one adult to that,” said Katie Smith, an ISR instructor with the Live Like Jake Foundation.
