New report shows youth pool drowning deaths are on the rise

As the temperatures rise, many are looking for ways to keep cool.

Pools and beaches will be full this weekend and it has swim instructors reminding parents and youth to stay safe.

Operations Director at Salinas Aquatic Swim Center, Joey Barerra, said it’s important to get your kids comfortable in the water at a young age, “kids learn how to tie their shoes, brush their teeth, they should learn how to swim as well.”

The swim center offers lessons for kids starting at 6 months old. Barerra says the younger they start the more they will be able to focus on skills rather than fear of the water when they get to the cognitive age, “kids that have taken prior swim lessons or even just been around the water they tend to grasp the material a lot better and learn a lot quicker. Being so close to the water it’s important that they at least know the basics.”

Barerra added even if your kids don’t plan on swimming but will be near water, it’s safest to have a Coast Guard approved life jacket for them to wear, “it takes a matter of seconds to drown, 80 percent of the drownings happen when there’s parents present on deck and it usually happens in shallow water. But wether it’s the pool, lakefront or beach, adult supervision is the most important key thing.”

A study released this week by the U.S.. Consumer Product Safety Commission said in 2016 389 children ages 15 or younger died from drowning. That’s up from 348 in 2015.

On average from 2016-2018 there were 6,600 non-fatal pool related injuries each year. Click here to view full report.

A stereotype Berrara says they’re trying to squash; it’s never too late to learn how to swim.