DCFS Highlights Water Safety as Summertime Begins

CHICAGO — The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is urging parents and caregivers to closely watch children around water as summertime begins. In 2024, 19 children in Illinois died from accidental drownings in pools, lakes, rivers, ponds and even a bathtub. DCFS stresses constant supervision, especially for children under age 5, who made up nearly half of the fatalities. Nationally, drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4 and the second leading cause of unintentional death for children ages 5 to 14. Safety recommendations include emptying buckets and small pools after use, keeping bathrooms secured, fencing in larger pools, enrolling children in swim lessons, and learning CPR.