May is Childhood Drowning Prevention Month
CHICAGO – With summer just around the corner, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) is reminding parents and caregivers of the importance of always supervising children when they are in or near water to avoid the tragedy of accidental drowning deaths. “Children are easily attracted to water, and even turning your attention away from a child near water for a moment to answer a phone call or tend to a child in the next room can result in dire consequences,” said Illinois DCFS Director Heidi E. Mueller . “Drownings happen quickly and silently in as little as one inch of water. We ask all caregivers to be responsible for watching their children no matter how well that child can swim as not all drownings involve waving, yelling and splashing. Please remember to be water wise and supervise your children if you are near water this summer.” In 2024, 19 Illinois children lost their lives to accidental drowning: eight in pools, four in