SC Wisconsin News

As summer brings more families to local lakes, rivers, and pools, experts are emphasizing the importance of water safety. World Drowning Prevention Day, held every July 25, seeks to raise awareness about the risks and prevention strategies for drowning incidents.

Michael Fraley, Trauma Registrar at Aspirus Health and Team Leader of the Oneida County Public Safety Dive Team, highlighted a common misconception about drowning. “The biggest thing we want to make people aware of is that drowning doesn't look like you think it does,” Fraley said. “It doesn't look like what we see on television or in movies, or even in cartoons. It's a really silent action. People aren't able to make noise when they're drowning… they can't breathe, so they can't make noise.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 4,000 fatal unintentional drownings occur annually in the United States. This amounts to roughly 11 deaths per day. In addition, approximately 8,000 nonfatal drownings are treated in emergency departments each year.

Fraley explained that someone who is drowning often will not wave or call out for help. Instead, the person is typically upright in the water and may be struggling to stay afloat without making much movement or sound. “If they're still moving in a swimming position, they're probably okay,” he said. “But if they’re upright and not being effective or efficient, that’s concerning.”

Bystanders generally have less than a minute to act when someone shows signs of distress in the water. Fraley noted that it can take only 20 to 60 seconds for a drowning person to submerge after initial signs appear. He advised using rescue aids—such as life jackets or pool noodles—to assist without putting oneself at risk.

Children face particular danger from drowning incidents. The CDC identifies drowning as the leading cause of death among children aged one to four years old and the second leading cause of unintentional injury death among those aged five to fourteen.

Fraley leads the Oneida County Public Safety Dive Team—a group formed following a local tragedy—that conducts underwater rescue and recovery across more than 1,100 lakes in Oneida County. “All of our divers go through open water dive training,” Fraley said. “We train them to use dry suits, dive at night and in low visibility, do deep diving, ice diving… It takes almost a full year to get a new diver on board and fully trained.”

Fraley hopes World Drowning Prevention Day serves as an opportunity for individuals and families to learn about how quickly drownings can occur and encourages preparation as a means of saving lives.