Key Reports & Findings
Data-driven insights on drowning incidents, trends, and prevention efforts from agency reports and research.
CPSC: Fatal Child Drownings Remain High
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reported that fatal child drownings continue at elevated levels, while nonfatal drowning injuries spiked by 17 percent in 2021 compared to the previous year.
Electric Shock Drowning: NFPA Guidance
The NFPA published tips on recognizing and avoiding electric shock drowning around marinas, docks, and boats — a hidden hazard that can affect swimmers in fresh water near energized equipment.
Aquaticity: A New Way to Assess Water Skills
An exploration of a framework for evaluating water competency beyond traditional swim tests, emphasizing real-world aquatic survival skills and decision-making in open water.
There Is No Substitute for Eye-to-Eye Contact
A parent-advocate perspective on active supervision, arguing that constant visual attention — not passive presence — is the cornerstone of child drowning prevention.
Legislation & Policy
Water Safety Magazine tracks key laws and regulations that shape pool and spa safety across the United States:
- Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act — Federal legislation mandating drain covers, safety vacuum release systems, and other anti-entrapment measures for public pools and spas.
- Title XIV: Pool and Spa Safety — Part of the Energy Independence and Security Act, establishing a grant program for states to adopt comprehensive pool safety laws.
- Lautenberg Chemical Safety Act — Relevant to pool chemical regulation and safe handling standards for residential and commercial pool maintenance.
- Layers of Protection — A widely endorsed approach combining barriers, alarms, supervision, and emergency preparedness to reduce drowning risk.