The Drowning Problem in Indiana | Goal Zero

Drowning is one of the most urgent and preventable safety issues facing families in the United States. Every year, more than 4,000 people die in unintentional drowning incidents, and about 8,000 more survive nonfatal drownings that can cause lifelong injury. Drowning can happen quickly, often silently, and it affects people of every age and background.

The impact on children is especially devastating. In the United States, drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4 and the second leading cause of unintentional injury death for children ages 5 to 14. Most drownings among children ages 1 to 4 happen in swimming pools, often after a child gains unsupervised access to the water.

The problem has grown worse in recent years. CDC reports that more than 4,500 people drowned each year in the United States from 2020 to 2022, about 500 more deaths per year than in 2019. The burden is not shared equally: drowning rates are higher for Black children and young adults and for American Indian and Alaska Native communities, showing that drowning prevention is not only a public safety issue, but also an access and equity issue.

That is why prevention matters. Expanding access to swim lessons, improving water safety education, strengthening supervision, and creating safer environments around water can save lives. Drowning is preventable, and with the right partnerships and investments, communities can reduce risk and protect more families.

Read more about how Goal Zero: Indiana Drowning Prevention helps.

Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)