How many drowning deaths happen per year in Travis County? What prevention resources are there?
AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin area has several bodies of water that people use for recreational activities like kayaking and swimming, which see an uptick in the warmer months. But with an increase in outdoor activity comes an increase in tragedies caused by accidents.
Earlier this week, a teenage boy's body was recovered from Lady Bird Lake after investigators said he was 'unknowingly standing near an underwater shelf' when he slipped and did not resurface. Last week, another young boy died following an eighth grade graduation celebration at Dick Nichols Park.
'It's deadly': The risks of drowning and knowing how to save a life
Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1-4, and it's the second leading cause of accidental injury for children ages 5-14, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
KXAN looked at the number of accidental deaths caused by drowning, as reported by the Travis County Medical Examiner's annual reports over the last 10 years. By the numbers, Travis County saw the lowest number of drownings last year, compared to the other years within the last decade.
According to the reports, the following number of accidental death drownings happened during the following years:
2024: 17
2023: 22
2022: 28
2021: 34
2020: 19
2019: 27
2018: 21
2017: 24
2016: 23
2015: 20
2014: 19
The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services also tracks child drowning deaths throughout the state. According to that agency, 22 children drowned in Texas so far this year.
There are several water safety training programs in the Austin area. The city of Austin has an injury prevention page and a water safety page on its website. The city provides training and certifications for city-hired lifeguards.
MAP: Tracking deaths in Lady Bird Lake in downtown Austin
Aquatic Management of Austin also offers lifeguard training through two different courses -Lifeguarding, Full Certification (for new lifeguards), and Lifeguarding Recertification, for those who need to renew their current certification.
Greater Austin YMCA, in collaboration with Colin's Hope, works to provide children with safety, aquatics, and fitness education. It's called Project SAFE, which stands for Safety, Aquatics and Fitness Education.
The American Red Cross has several water safety certification programs and safety tips online.
Goldfish Swim School has several indoor children's swim lessons and programs for children ages 4 months and up, and it offers safe swimming presentations to children in participating daycare centers, schools, and other educational facilities at no cost.
UT Recreational Sports also has lifeguard certification classes for enrolled UT students.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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