With the school year coming to a close for many and warmer weather here to stay, swimming safety experts are reminding eager swimmers that basic safety precautions can be the difference between life and death this summer.
Data from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources highlights the ongoing risk, with 49 non-boating drownings in 2024, 48 in 2023 and 30 in 2022. Preliminary data from 2025 shows there were 13 non-boating drownings from January 1 through September 15.
When it comes to staying safe in the water, communication is key, according to Lauren Rose, the aquatics leader at Life Time Edina at Southdale.
"The biggest thing is knowing the depth of the water and knowing who is responsible for watching each child," Rose said. "We recommend a 1 to 3 ratio, or one adult or sponsoring person who is observing them to ensure that there's someone always watching them. If something were to happen, that person would know they need to help that child out because they're watching them."
Swimming pools present a more controlled environment, with lifeguards typically ready to respond to any type of incident that may occur. That environment is different and less predictable on lakes and streams.
"In pools, it's easier to see how far the swimmer is going to go," Rose said. "In open water, if you're in a lake or beach, they can tend to get further out. If you have the glare of the sun or there isn't a lifeguard, things can get a little dicey."
Lifejackets remain the overall best lifesaving piece of equipment in the water, but there are other basic ways to create a safe environment. That includes choosing an appropriately colored swimming suit that can easily be spotted.
"We really want to see neon swimsuits, something very visible if there's some sort of glare, or shadows, especially in those uncontrolled environments. Even if it is a pool, if there's a deep end, as a child gets deeper in the water, it's going to be harder to see them. We want that neon swimsuit to create that high visibility."
Brighter swimsuits are also key to staying visible to passing boaters, but proximity also matters.
"Keeping a close distance with your boat, or staying within a certain number of feet of a floaty, will help keep you visible to boat traffic, or to those going by very quickly," Rose added.
