Swim expert offers drowning prevention tips as we approach summer

May 18, 2021

Ariel Schiller,

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, the state had 130 drowning deaths in 2019.

Experts say drowning is preventable if you have the right tools.

Jason Swaim, the head coach for Swim Macon, says you should enroll your children in swimming lessons, because the more access they have to water the more apt they’ll be at swimming.

Swaim says they have cost effective lessons available along with other options in the community.

“The parks and recreation departments generally do swimming lessons in the summer and you can get them there,” Swaim said. “And there are other entities.”

Swaim says no one should swim alone.

If you’re in a moving body of water, be sure to wear a life jacket. Swaim says wearing one could mean the difference between life and death.

“It keeps you alive,” he said. “That’s why the reason they call them life jackets, because if you can’t swim, it is a body floatation device. It doesn’t matter how much you weigh or whatever, in the water, we can make sure that you’re safe,” Swaim said.

Statistics from the Georgia Department of Public Health on drowning deaths from 2009 to 2019.

We looked at the state’s total deaths from 2009 to 2019, and the data shows more than 1,300 people drowned. Swaim says the most important thing is keeping an eye on your children when they’re in or around water.

“If they’re not visible, check the bottom of the pool, because kids can survive if they drown,” Swaim said. “People can survive if they drown. There’s a critical window of about 5 to 6 minutes there that you need to get to them and start CPR.”