The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that after decades of decline, drowning deaths are on the rise in the United States. 

With that in mind, a doctor with OSF HealthCare has some tips to keep you and your family safe around the water this summer. Jon Gehlbach says swim lessons and adult supervision are two of the most important things for kids getting in the water. One of the most common reasons for child drowning, Dr. Gehlbach says, is when a child enters the pool without adults even knowing.

Over 4,500 people died each year from drowning from 2020-2022, reported in the CDC's Vital Signs study. The study shows drowning to be the number one cause of death for children ages 1-4. The research points out that 55% of American adults have never taken a swimming lesson, and that drowning death rates for Black people were 28% higher in 2021 than 2019.