At least 3 people drowned in North Texas lakes over weekend. How to keep yourself safe
At least three people are believed to have drowned in North Texas lakes over the Memorial Day weekend, according to law enforcement and park agencies.
A swimmer was reported missing from Benbrook Lake on Sunday, said Ron Becker, the chief of the Cresson Volunteer Fire Department, which responded to the scene. An 18-year-old man went missing after his kayak flipped in Lake Bridgeport on Sunday, the Wise County Messenger reported. A 19-year-old drowned in Lake Lewisville on Sunday, KDFW-TV reported.
The drownings are part of a nationwide increase in drowning deaths, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. From 2020 until 2022, more than 4,500 people died by drowning each year, compared to about 4,000 deaths in 2019. The exact reason for the increase in drowning deaths is unknown, said Tessa Clemens, a scientist with the CDC’s division of injury prevention, although it is possible that the COVID-19 pandemic reduced children’s access to public pools and swimming lessons.
“Drowning rates have been declining in the past several decades,” Clemens said during a news conference. “The increase really started in 2020.”
Drowning is the No. 1 cause of death for children ages 1 through 4, according to the CDC.
No children in Tarrant County have died from drowning in 2024, according to state data. Last year, two children died from drowning. A 10-month-old girl drowned in a bathtub and a 3-year-old girl drowned in a backyard pool.
Dr. Daniel D. Guzman, an ER physician at Cook Children’s Medical Center, said the most important thing for parents to remember when their children are in or near bodies of water, including bathtubs, is that you have to pay attention at all times. One of the biggest misconceptions parents have, he said, is that they will hear their child yelling for help.
“We think that kids who drown are going to make a lot of noise,” he said. “It really is a silent death, and that’s why supervision is so important.”
As people spend more time in the water while trying to escape the Texas heat, remember these safety tips.
Water safety tips
- Avoid drinking alcohol before and during swimming and boating, according to the CDC.
- Set up fencing or gates around any backyard pools so they are fully enclosed.
- Supervise children constantly when they are in a body of water, whether it’s a bathtub, pool, or lake. “You really have to be eyes on the water, eyes on your child at all times,” Guzman said.
- Avoid multi-tasking when you are giving your child a bath; stay focused on them at all times.
- Wear a life vest. Cook Children’s advises that “the single most important thing when it comes to open water safety is a life vest.”
- Learn CPR in case of an emergency.
Where to find swimming lessons in Fort Worth
- The Fort Worth Drowning Prevention Coalition offers water safety lessons at local Fort Worth pools. Visit fwdpc.org for more information.
- The city of Fort Worth offers swimming lessons at Marine Park and Forest Park pools through Sigma Swimming. Register at sigmaswim.org/youth-swim-lessons.
- You can find more water safety tips and advice by visiting the Fort Worth Drowning Prevention Coalition’s website at fwdpc.org or by visiting lifeguardyourchild.org.
