The Basics
- Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death for children under 5 in Texas — and one of the top causes nationally. But the key fact is this: drowning is almost entirely preventable.
- The right combination of swim lessons, barriers, supervision, life jackets, and CPR knowledge can prevent the vast majority of drowning deaths.
- Emma’s Project exists because of this truth. Through programs like Learn To Swim and Water Safety Card Distribution, we empower families with the skills and knowledge they need to stay safe.
- Drowning does not look like the movies. It is fast, silent, and can happen in as little as 20–60 seconds. Education is the first line of defense.
- WEBSITE: CDC Drowning Prevention
- WEBSITE: American Academy of Pediatrics: Water Safety
Action Items
- Enroll your children in formal swim lessons as early as age 1. Research shows swim lessons reduce drowning risk by up to 88% for young children.
- Install a four-sided isolation fence with a self-latching gate around any home pool. This single layer of protection prevents most childhood pool drownings.
- Learn infant and child CPR. In a drowning emergency, bystander CPR before EMS arrives significantly improves survival and recovery outcomes.
- Distribute Emma’s Project Water Safety Cards in your community — at daycares, pediatrician offices, churches, and schools.
- Share this page and tag #EmmasProject #DrowningPrevention to spread awareness.
- FIND A CLASS: American Red Cross CPR Training
Dive Deeper
- The “Layers of Protection” framework — swim lessons, barriers, supervision, life jackets, and CPR — is endorsed by leading water safety organizations. No single layer is enough; all five work together to create a safety net around children near water.
- Texas has among the highest childhood drowning rates in the nation, driven partly by the state’s warm climate and high rates of private pool ownership. Awareness, access, and action are the keys to change.
- Black and Hispanic children face disproportionately higher drowning rates, in part due to limited access to swim instruction and aquatic facilities. Supporting organizations like Emma’s Project that serve these communities directly is essential.
- ARTICLE: Prevention of Drowning in Children (Canadian Medical Association Journal)
- ORGANIZATION: Water Safety USA — national coalition of drowning prevention leaders