According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning is the leading cause of injury and death for children ages 1-4. The CDC recommends people of all ages and swimming abilities wear a life jacket while boating, and all children and weaker swimmers wear one while in natural waterways.

"Swimming lessons are crucial for people of all ages—children, teens and adults—everyone deserves to know how to swim. Being able to move and survive in the water, like you would on land, is crucially important," Bailey Vandegrift, an aquatics director with YMCA of Greater Williamson County, said.

Child drowning deaths in Texas

Drowning-related deaths among children have decreased slightly over the past five years, according to data from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. More than 360 children have died in drowning incidents statewide since the start of 2018.


Local impact


The five Texas counties with the most children drownings per year are Harris, Dallas, Denton, Galveston and Tarrant. Combined, Williamson, Travis and Hays counties have had 17 child drowning deaths since 2018.
  • Williamson County: 6 (2 in 2022*)
  • Travis County: 9 (0 in 2022*)
  • Hays County: 2 (0 in 2022*)
* as of June 24

National Statistics

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are an estimated 3,960 drowning deaths in the United States every year.
  • 80% of drowning victims are male
  • Children ages 1-4 years have the highest drowning rates
  • Between 1999-2019, the rate of drowning deaths among children ages 0-17 declined 38%
Swimming safety tips

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides the following swimming safety information:
  • Any depth of water can be dangerous
  • Always place a barrier around water
  • Drowning is often quiet and quick
  • Swim in supervised areas
  • Keep an eye on the weather and go inside if bad weather is approaching
  • Always enter water feet first and do not dive into shallow water
Local swim schools


These businesses and organizations in Cedar Park and Leander offer swimming lessons.

Apex Swim Academy LLC

828 Palamos Drive, Leander

512-577-4905


www.apexswimacademy.com

Aqua-Tots Swim Lessons

1335 E. Whitestone Blvd., Bldg. Y, Ste. 100, Cedar Park

512-518-6236


www.aqua-tots.com/cedar-park

Emler Swim School of Cedar Park

1310 E. Whitestone Blvd., Ste. 590, Cedar Park

512-817-3400


www.emlerswimschool.com/location/cedar-park

Nitro Swimming

1310 Toro Grande Blvd., Cedar Park

512-259-7999

www.nitroswim.com/cedar-park-location

Twin Lakes Family YMCA

204 E. Little Elm Trail, Cedar Park

512-250-9622

www.ymcactx.org/locations/cedar-park

Waterloo Swimming - North

12332 N. RM 620, Bldg. C, Austin

512-401-3404

www.waterlooswimming.com

This list is not comprehensive.