Health
Water safety tips from experts for families and caregivers as drowning deaths increase
As summer gets underway, a recent report sheds light on the importance of swimming and water safety strategies.
Each year, some 4,000 unintentional drowning deaths occur in the U.S., with the highest rates among children between 1 and 4 years of age, according to a report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Drowning is the leading cause of death among children age 4 and under, and it is one of the three leading causes of death due to unintentional injury among those aged 5 to 34, the report said.
DROWNING PREVENTION: KEEP KIDS SAFE IN AND NEAR THE WATER WITH THESE TIPS
“With drownings on the rise across the U.S., especially among young children, it is more critical than ever to ensure that water safety is always top of mind,” Megan Ferraro, executive director of The ZAC Foundation.
It’s a Connecticut-based organization that develops educational programming and resources for swimmers of all ages and abilities, she wrote in an email to Fox News Digital.
Each year, some 4,000 unintentional drowning deaths occur in the U.S., with the highest rates among children between 1 and 4 years of age. (iStock)
The number of unintentional drowning deaths has risen in the years since the COVID pandemic, the report revealed.
Between 2020 and 2022, the increased drowning rates may have been caused by infrastructure disruptions, limited access to supervised swimming venues, and individuals spending more time in or near water, said the CDC.
BEACH SAFETY TIPS: WHAT TO DO IN A RIP CURRENT AND HOW TO STAY SAFE NEAR THE WATER
Despite these risks, more than half of U.S. adults have never taken a swimming lesson.
Heading into the thick of beach and pool season, several swim and water officials shared these eight water safety measures to prevent tragic drownings.
1. Choose swimsuit colors carefully
Some swim instructors suggest dressing children in bright-colored bathing suits and avoiding colors that blend with the surrounding water.
Some swim instructors suggest dressing children in bright-colored bathing suits and avoiding colors that blend with the surrounding water. (iStock)
Nikki Scarnati, a certified infant swimming resource instructor in Florida, used her TikTok platform to warn parents to avoid buying blue or pastel-colored bathing suits, which can make it difficult to spot children in the water.
In her 2023 social media post, she demonstrated how it was easier to see bright colors, such as red, in splashing water.
2. Don’t skip the swim lessons
Water safety instructors recommend enrolling children at an early age in swim lessons through local organizations.
“Studies have shown that swim lessons reduce childhood drowning by 88%,” Ferraro noted.
Many organizations, like the American Red Cross, offer swim classes to help individuals become more comfortable in the water and learn to become stronger, safer swimmers.
“Studies have shown that swim lessons reduce childhood drowning by 88%.”
Experts also suggest taking added precautions, such as installing alarms and gates, to prevent children from wandering into pool areas unsupervised.
3. Be aware of high-risk children
“Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death for children with autism,” Lindsay Naeder, the Philadelphia-based vice president of community impact for Autism Speaks, told Fox News Digital.
Water safety instructors recommend enrolling children at an early age in swim lessons through local organizations. (iStock)
Naeder emphasized the importance of educating beach and pool lifeguards about how to recognize signs of distress in swimmers with autism.
“You can work with lifeguards to understand the different behaviors of autism and how to best communicate with an autistic individual, especially during an unsafe situation,” Naeder said via email to Fox News Digital.
4. Install safeguards for older swimmers
When caring for adults with dementia, installing gates and pool alarms can prevent dangerous situations in the event that the individual gets confused and wanders, some experts told Fox News Digital.
“Caregivers of elderly adults with dementia need to identify potentially dangerous areas near their homes, such as pools and all bodies of water,” Ferraro told Fox News Digital.
BE WELL: RECOGNIZE THE WARNING SIGNS OF ‘DRY DROWNING’ AND TAKE QUICK ACTION
She recommended choosing an alarm that beeps if a door to the pool is opened or if the surface of the water is disrupted by movement.
“Make sure a senior with dementia never swims alone,” she added. “A swim buddy or guardian should always be close by.”
5. Know the ABCDEs
Parents and caregivers must use multiple layers of protection when it comes to keeping families safe in and around water, Ferraro told Fox News Digital.
Installing locking fences and other barriers around water is an essential component of pool safety, experts say. (iStock)
“This means following the ABCDEs of water safety: A is for Adult supervision, B is for Barriers around water, C is for swim Classes, D is for avoiding Drain entrapment and using Devices such as Coast Guard-approved lifejackets, and E is for Everywhere — because water is all around us,” she said.
6. Remain vigilant while in large groups
As pool party season gets underway, it is important to remain vigilant.
“In large groups, like a pool party, everyone assumes someone else is watching the children in the pool — this is known as the diffusion of responsibility,” Ferraro warned.
“Don’t ever assume someone else is watching your kids around the water.”
“Don’t ever assume someone else is watching your kids around the water, because this can have deadly consequences.”
Parents should ensure that children are swimming in lifeguard-designated areas — and it is important to provide close, constant supervision even if lifeguards are present, Ferraro noted.
Parents should ensure that children are swimming in lifeguard-designated areas, and it is important to provide close, constant supervision even if lifeguards are present. (iStock)
“Designate an adult ‘water watcher’ whose sole responsibility is to keep a watchful eye on those in the water at all times,” she recommended.
“Never leave a child unattended in or near the water, not even for a second. Make sure children are within arm’s length of an adult at all times when at the pool or beach.”
7. Ensure pets’ safety
It is also important to protect your pets’ safety in the water, noted Ferrara with The ZAC Foundation.
“Always keep your eyes on your pet around water, and never leave them unattended,” she said. “Be aware that not all dog breeds are natural swimmers.”
8. Be mindful of water differences
Swimming in open water is different from swimming in a pool, experts warn.
“If you swim well in a backyard pool, that does not mean you can swim well in the ocean,” George Gorman Jr., regional director of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, told Fox News Digital.
Swimming in open water is different from swimming in a pool, experts warn. (iStock)
“You need to stay close to shore, and gain experience.”
Gorman, who oversees many of the ocean areas along the shores of Long Island, New York, also warned people to be mindful of rip currents that may occur in ocean waters.
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“If you are caught in a rip current, do not fight against it,” he advised. “Instead, swim parallel to the shore until you notice the current diminishing and you are out of it.”
He also recommended swimming with a buddy, and maintaining a distance of around 25 feet if a rip current is encountered.
A lifeguard looks out at people swimming in the Atlantic Ocean on a beach at the Jersey Shore on June 27, 2020, in Middletown, New Jersey. An expert warned people to be mindful of rip currents that may occur in ocean waters. (Gary Hershorn/Getty Images)
“This way, your buddy has time to react and escape to get help.”
To avoid an unwelcome encounter with certain marine life, such as sharks, Gorman said to avoid murky water and to look for signs that a larger fish may be in the vicinity.
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“If you see splashing fish or diving seabirds, that usually means there are smaller fish in that area — therefore, larger fish may be headed there to feed on those smaller fish,” Gorman said.
It’s also wise to avoid areas where larger fish, such as seals or dolphins, have been spotted.
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The sudden death of Kyle Busch has drawn attention to a rare but devastating medical progression: when pneumonia escalates into fatal sepsis.
An ER doctor spoke with Fox News Digital about how sepsis can trigger a rapid health decline.
“Sepsis is actually not a specific disease or diagnosis, but rather the syndrome that occurs when the body has certain abnormal findings and a presumed infection,” said Dr. Kenneth J. Perry, a South Carolina-based emergency medicine physician.
HOW PNEUMONIA PROGRESSES TO SEPSIS: DOCTORS EXPLAIN AFTER KYLE BUSCH’S DEATH
The markers of sepsis include elevated white blood cell counts, a high or low temperature, and elevated heart and respiratory rates, according to Perry. Because of this, a patient with pneumonia is often already technically septic by definition.
In the wake of Kyle Busch’s sudden passing, there is a focus on the rapid decline from pneumonia to fatal sepsis. (Getty; iStock)
While many people assume a worsening infection means bacteria are multiplying uncontrollably, it often has more to do with the body’s internal environment.
“It is often not the bacteria itself that is causing the specific decline,” Perry said. “In most cases, it is a cascade of inflammatory processes that are set in motion by the infection.”
When this inflammation spirals out of control, the body moves from having a manageable infection into severe sepsis. This is when otherwise healthy people can rapidly deteriorate.
SURGE IN WALKING PNEUMONIA AFFECTS THESE HIGH-RISK GROUPS, SAYS DR. MARC SIEGEL
“The concerning thing that can happen with any individual … is that sepsis can then lead to low blood pressure, worsening vital signs and organ damage,” Perry said.
“As multiple organs fail, it becomes very difficult for the medical team to treat and can sometimes lead ultimately to death.”
“The medical evaluation provided to the Busch Family concluded that severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis, resulting in rapid and overwhelming associated complications,” the family shared in a statement. (James Gilbert/Getty Images)
It is very unlikely to have pneumonia and not have any symptoms, according to Perry. Early signs can mimic a severe flu, including fevers, chills, a productive cough, and chest or back pain in cases where the lung is infected.
When sepsis begins to take hold, time becomes the most critical factor. “We have known for a number of years that early antibiotic therapy is beneficial in the treatment of sepsis,” Perry said.
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If you or a loved one are managing an infection at home, the doctor says the following red flags mean you should bypass the clinic and head straight to the emergency room.
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- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- A racing heart rate or fever that continues to worsen even after starting treatment
- Severe chest pain associated with a productive cough
The slide into sepsis is, in most cases, a cascade of inflammatory processes that are set in motion by the infection, the doctor said. (iStock)
While cases like Busch’s are tragic, Perry stressed that this shouldn’t cause widespread panic. Most patients with pneumonia do very well with standard oral antibiotics.
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The NASCAR star’s rapid decline underscores the importance of medical vigilance and “having a primary care physician with whom you have a good relationship,” according to the ER doctor.
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“Monitoring symptoms while having easy access to primary care is a very beneficial and appropriate plan for most patients,” he added.
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Popular glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) weight-loss drugs may help slow the spread of some cancers, according to new research to be presented at a major medical conference.
Research led by Cleveland Clinic found that the medications may reduce the spread of several obesity-related cancers, including lung, breast, colorectal and liver cancers.
The findings will be presented at the 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting next week in Chicago.
WEIGHT-LOSS DRUGS NOW LINKED TO CANCER PROTECTION IN WOMEN, MAJOR NEW STUDY REVEALS
According to a press release, the real-world retrospective study included 12,112 patients with the following types of obesity-related cancers, ranging from stage 1 to stage 3.
Popular GLP-1 weight-loss drugs may help slow the spread of some cancers, according to new research to be presented at a major medical conference. (iStock)
- Breast adenocarcinoma
- Prostate adenocarcinoma
- Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
- Colorectal adenocarcinoma
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer)
- Renal cell carcinoma
- Pancreatic adenocarcinoma
Half of the participants started a GLP-1 medication – semaglutide, tirzepatide, dulaglutide, liraglutide, lixisenatide or pramlintide – after their cancer diagnosis.
The other half began taking a DPP-4 inhibitor comparator “gliptins,” a different class of diabetes medications, the study noted.
WEIGHT-LOSS DRUGS’ IMPACT ON CANCER RISK REVEALED IN NEW STUDY
Compared to the patients taking gliptins, the GLP-1 users were found to have significantly lower progression to stage 4 disease for four types of cancers.
The biggest risk reduction was for non-small cell lung cancer (50%), followed by breast cancer (43%), colorectal cancer (31%) and liver cancer (38%).
Compared to the patients taking gliptins, the GLP-1 users were found to have significantly lower progression to stage 4 disease for four types of cancers. (iStock)
“Our study found that use of GLP-1 drugs, compared to DPP-4 inhibitors and other antidiabetic drugs, was associated with a meaningful reduction in cancer progression across four solid tumor types,” said lead study author Mark David Orland, MD, of the Taussig Cancer Institute at Cleveland Clinic, in the release. “It provides early evidence that future studies are worth pursuing.”
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Three other types of cancer – prostate, pancreatic and kidney – also had lower rates of spread among those taking GLP-1s, but those differences were “not statistically significant,” the researchers noted.
“Our study found that use of GLP-1 drugs … was associated with a meaningful reduction in cancer progression across four solid tumor types.”
Tumors with higher levels of GLP-1 receptors — proteins that help cells respond to GLP-1 hormones and drugs — were also linked to better survival outcomes, according to the study findings.
Overall, patients whose tumors had more of these receptors were about one-third less likely to die during the study period.
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The incidence of adverse side effects was similar between GLP-1 and gliptin groups.
The findings suggest that GLP-1 pathways may directly influence how some cancers grow or spread, though researchers say more studies are needed to understand the mechanism behind this effect.
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The study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, had some limitations, according to the researchers. As it was retrospective and observational in design – as opposed to a randomized clinical trial – it couldn’t prove that GLP-1 drugs directly prevent cancer progression.
The findings suggest that GLP-1 pathways may directly influence how some cancers grow or spread, though researchers say more studies are needed to understand the mechanism behind this effect. (iStock)
Other factors, such as participants’ health conditions, weight loss and metabolic improvements, may have influenced the results, researchers noted.
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For some specific cancer types, there may not have been enough patients represented to detect statistically significant differences.
Further randomized clinical trials are needed to evaluate these preliminary findings and to determine the specific ways in which GLP-1s control cancer progression.
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