💦Splashing into Summer Time🌞
May 20, 2026
**💦Splashing into Summer Time🌞
“Respect the Water, Children Drown In Silence.” Those words are not just a slogan, but a reality and reflect the message conveyed by the members of the Drowning Prevention Coalition of El Paso.
MAY IS National Water Safety Month. As families converge to aquatic centers, pools, water parks and spray pads opening for the summer, it is vital to ensure safety is a priority for all. DROWNING IS #1 KILLER OF CHILDREN AGES 1-4. Drowning is # 1 cause of death in Autistic children.
As of 2026, Texas has recorded 21 fatal child drownings, and El Paso has recorded 0 child drownings. For comparison, in 2025 Texas recorded 88 fatal drownings, while El Paso recorded 0. El Paso 2026 adult incident noted: 54-year-old female; medical/drowning incident in a spa.
Most drownings occur in areas without Lifeguards; such as backyard pools, hotel & apartment pools, rivers, lakes and bathtubs.
The National Water Safety Month tips for parents and caregivers about safer water practices.
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Actively supervise children and non-swimmers around the water even when lifeguards are present. Avoid distracting activities such as checking email or social media. Drowning is quick and silent. Be a WATER WATCHER around all bodies of water.
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Learn to swim.
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Use barriers, alarms, fencing self-closing/latching gates in pool area.
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Ask an adult for permission before entering pool and swim with a buddy.
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Wear properly fitted U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket when boating; non- swimmers and inexperienced swimmers should always wear lie jacket. Inflatable wings/rings can deflate and leak.
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Learn how to use CPR/FIRST AID/AED.
It takes a community working together to prevent fatal and non-fatal drownings.
For more info or to make donations go to: www.dpcelpaso.org.
