The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

Summer is not over yet and 41 children and teens have drowned in Texas, but none of those have occurred in Orange County but that doesn’t mean parents and caregivers can stop paying attention.

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services urges parents and all adults to keep constant watch on children when they’re around water, especially young children. It’s hot and everyone wants to stay cool. But always remember that it only takes a minute or two for a child to drown.

“Nothing is more tragic and painful than the untimely death of a child or youth,” said DFPS Commissioner John Specia. “If you’re going to a party or event near water this weekend, talk to all the adults on hand about water safety and about keeping their eyes on all the children at all times.”

Drowning is a leading cause of accidental death among young children and the younger the child the greater the danger. Most victims are boys and the vast majority are six years of age or younger. Learn more about child drowning deaths and how to prevent them at http://www.WatchKidsAroundWater.org. The website is full of water safety tips, drowning statistics, and a “Lifeguard 101” teaching tool. The goal is to educate and motivate parents and other adults to “be lifeguards for kids” both indoors and outdoors.

This year, Texas kids have drowned in bathtubs, pools, ponds, creeks, and rivers. However, backyard and apartment swimming pools are by far the most common places that children drown. Plus, child drowning is a much bigger problem in some parts of Texas than in others. Greater Houston accounts for 19 of the 41 child drowning deaths this year with 12 in Harris County alone.

Child-drowning deaths in Texas typically peak in June and July and the vast majority happen from Memorial Day through Labor Day, when children are out of school and the weather is hot.