MyChart
In Minnesota, water is everywhere—and for most families, that’s a good thing. Lakes, rivers, backyard pools, and neighborhood beaches are where summers happen. Where kids grow up. Where families unwind.
It’s also where drowning happens. Faster, more quietly, and closer to home than most people expect. The CDC reports that drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1-4—and in nearly 90% of cases, an adult was nearby when it happened.
Here’s what every Minnesota family should know before the season starts.
1. Swim lessons may be the best water safety investment you can make
Not water wings. Not a swimsuit with a built-in float. Actual swim lessons—where kids learn to float, tread water, and get themselves to safety. Research found that formal swim lessons were associated with an 88% reduction in drowning risk in children ages 1–4. No wonder the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends formal swim lessons for children starting as early as age one.
If your kids aren’t enrolled yet, start by checking out the class schedules at the Mora Aquatic Center or West Side Beach in Pine City.
2. The hazards aren’t always where you think
For families with young children, drowning risk isn’t just at the lake. Young children can drown in surprisingly small amounts of water, which is why even kiddie pools, buckets, and decorative water features require close supervision. Empty portable pools and containers after every use—every time.
3. A fence saves lives
If you have a pool on your property — above-ground or in-ground — a four-sided fence with a self-latching gate is one of the most effective barriers between a toddler and a tragedy. While above-ground pool walls feel like protection, a determined two-year-old can climb a ladder or pull over a chair. A fence is the layer of protection that actually holds.
4. Supervision means one person, one job
Nearly 90% of drownings happen with an adult nearby—which tells you that being nearby isn’t enough. Designate a water watcher: one adult whose only job in that moment is watching the kids in the water. No phone, no conversation, no stepping away without a clear handoff. When you need a break, say it out loud: “I’m stepping away—you’ve got them.” Many tragedies happen in the gap between two people who both thought the other one was watching.
5. Drowning doesn’t look like drowning
Forget what you’ve seen in the movies: the flailing and splashing and screaming. A drowning person is usually silent—vertical in the water, head tilted back, mouth at the surface, using every bit of energy just to breathe. By the time it looks dramatic, the window to intervene has often already closed. Know what you’re looking for.
6. A life jacket only works when it’s being worn
Minnesota law requires children under 10 to wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket on any moving vessel. But the pattern in drowning data is consistent: most people who drown on Minnesota water had a life jacket on board that they weren’t wearing. For young children, a properly fitted life jacket goes on near open water—not just on the boat. For everyone else, make it the default on open water, on moving water, and any time conditions are less than ideal.
7. Alcohol and water don’t mix
Summer gatherings around boats, beaches, and pools tend to include drinks — and that’s exactly where the risk creeps in. Unfortunately, alcohol is a significant and underacknowledged factor in adult drowning deaths. If you’re the designated water watcher or operating any watercraft, don’t mix that responsibility with alcohol.
8. Learn CPR before you need it
In rural Minnesota, emergency response times can be longer than many people expect. When a drowning or other emergency occurs, bystander CPR in the first few minutes can make a critical difference.
For summer water safety and so many other reasons, consider signing up for Welia Health’s First Aid, CPR and AED Training presented by the American Red Cross. Spend a few hours and learn critical life-saving skills. If you spend summers near the water—and in Minnesota, most of us do—it’s worth your afternoon.
The best time to start is before you need to
Water will always be part of Minnesota summers. A little preparation means it stays one of the best parts.
Questions about health and safety for your family? Talk to your Welia Health provider in Mora, Pine City, or Hinckley. Call Welia Health at 320.679.1313 or log in to MyChart to schedule an appointment.
