What to know about Childhood Drowning Prevention Month
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — As trips to pools and lakes ramp up with the warmer weather, the Department of Children and Family Services reminds people how to prevent childhood drowning.
Through all of 2024, 19 children in Illinois lost their lives to accidental drowning, with eight in pools, four in lakes, four in rivers, two in ponds, and one in a bathtub, a DCFS spokesperson said.
Of these 19 youths, nine were under the age of five years old, with six of those drowning in pools. With May being Childhood Drowning Prevention Month, DCFS released the following tips to prevent drowning, they said.
They say in bathrooms to never leave a child alone in the tub or rely on a bathtub seat, secure the toilet lid, and don't let them play in the bathroom alone, they said.
Five-gallon buckets pose a risk to children as well, as they can 'topple' into them and be unable to get out, they said.
Inflatable pools should be completely drained and stored upside down, as babies can drown in as little as one inch of water, they said.
The following were tips for hot tubs and swimming pools, according to the spokesperson:
Appoint an adult who can swim to always watch children when they are in the pool.
Enroll children in swimming lessons.
Keep ladders, patio furniture and toys away from above-ground pools.
Install a four-sided fence with a self-closing, self-latching gate around all pools and spas.
Young children can wear personal flotation devices, but do not be lured into thinking these are able to prevent drownings.
Keep hot tubs securely covered when not in use. Children should not be left in a hot tub alone.
Learn CPR and keep rescue equipment, a phone and emergency numbers by the pool. The American Red Cross offers online CPR training classes anyone can take at their own pace from the convenience of home.
The last aspect was ponds, fountains, and other water hazards in your yards, and check those places first if a child goes missing, they said.
For more information, visit the DCFS website.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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