Summer may be ending, but water safety is more important than ever

Drownings continue to surge at an alarming rate this summer nationwide and in the tri-state area.Factors contributing to the spike included unexpected, unsupervised access to pools and open water, lack of barriers and fencing, the ongoing lifeguard shortage, dangerous currents and strong rip tides, and hidden water hazards. Here in New York City, six people have drowned at city beaches so far this year, surpassing last summer’s total of four and marking the highest number of fatalities since 2019, which saw at least seven deaths.

This season’s fatalities include: two boys – ages 16 and 17 – at Jacob Riis Park on June 21, a pair of Bronx sisters – ages 17 and 18 – at Coney Island Beach on July 5, and two men – ages 26 and 30 – at Rockaway Beach on July 17 and July 22, respectively.Elsewhere around the region, Long Island’s Suffolk County has seen a spate of backyard pool drownings, with a total of 10 reported fatalities through August 8, 2024, compared to four in 2023 and eight in 2022, according to data from the Suffolk County Police Department Homicide Squad.In New Jersey, where about 65 people drown each year, a string of drownings in backyard pools and along the Jersey Shore this summer have made tragic headlines.The U.S is experiencing an unprecedented drowning crisis, especially among young children and African-Amerifans of all ages, according to a recent CDC report.Drownings among kids ages 1-4 – already the leading cause of death for this age group – has risen 28% since 2019, while the rate for African-Americans climbed 28% in 2021 compared to 2019, the data revealed.

Overall, there were more than 4,500 drownings in the U.S.annually from 2020 to 2022, an increase of about 10% over the past few years.

These grim statistics underscore the urgent need for enhanced year-round water safety measures year-round to combat an entirely preventable tragedy.The concerning uptick in nationwide drownings– following years of decline – can be at...