Glossary
Drowning
Breathing trouble caused by being under or in water. Drowning can be fatal or nonfatal.
Drowning is the process of having trouble breathing because your nose and mouth are under or in water, according to the CDC (opens in a new tab). It happens when water blocks breathing for too long, and it is not always fatal: people can survive a drowning with no injury, or with serious harm such as brain damage.
Key facts:
- About 4,000 people died from unintentional drowning each year in the U.S. from 2012 to 2021, an average of 11 a day (CDC (opens in a new tab)).
- More children ages 1 to 4 die from drowning than from any other cause.
- Drowning happens in seconds and is often silent (CDC (opens in a new tab)).
That last point surprises many families. A person who is drowning usually cannot shout or wave, so watching closely matters more than listening. Learn the signs in what drowning looks like, and the layers that prevent it in the family water safety plan.
What you can do today: name a Water Watcher for the next time children swim, and empty any bucket or wading pool at home.