Swimming season is upon us — and with it comes the increased risk of drowning.

There are roughly 106 days between Memorial Day (May 25) and Labor Day (Sept. 7),  which is when drownings of children from ages 1 to 4 peak, said Heather Trnka, the injury prevention manager for Akron Children’s hospital. 

Several organizations in the Akron area offer free water safety classes to help swimmers become comfortable and alert in and around the water. In addition to brushing up on or better understanding water safety, residents can become proficient swimmers through free or paid lessons locally. 

As pools begin to open and vacations involving bodies of water are planned, adults should be aware of prevention guidelines ranging from what drowning looks like to which life jackets are Coast Guard-approved. 

Akron-area pools are starting to open up, including Wadsworth Grizzly Outdoor Pool at the Wadsworth YMCA. Swimmers and parents are brushing up on skills or learning how to swim, along with water safety tips.
Akron-area pools are starting to open up, including Wadsworth Grizzly Outdoor Pool at the Wadsworth YMCA. Swimmers and parents are brushing up on skills or learning how to swim, along with water safety tips. (Kelsei Scott / Signal Akron)

“Water safety is super important. Even here in Northeast Ohio,” Trnka said. “Although it can be super fun, we want to make sure that everything that we’re doing in and around water is safe for our kids.” 

“That’s not just for little kids. It’s for big kids and adults too.”

To reduce the numbers of fatal water accidents in Akron and beyond, here are a few practices to tuck in your beach bag this summer. 

How will I know what drowning looks like?

Every year, drowning causes more than 4,000 deaths in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Knowing what drowning looks like can save lives and be useful in any situation with water — from bathtubs to pools.

An incident often mistaken for fatal drowning is dry drowning. Dry drowning is an outdated term used to describe when someone inhales water. This has circulated on social media in recent years, Trnka said. While it is still an emergency, dry drowning is not common.

Drowning, in fact, is silent — there could be no noise, splashing or yelling. 

Signs that someone is drowning include:

  • Head bobbing above the water. 
  • Seeing a mouth facing toward the surface.
  • Arms and legs not flailing around but mimicking a ladder climbing motion.
  • Facing the shore.
  • Non-responsive or blank stare.

No one should swim alone. Leg cramps, heart attacks, an unintentional ingestion of water could happen to solo swimmers. 

“The most important thing,” Trnka said, “is that we get emergency care as quickly as possible. This is calling 911, allowing the paramedics and EMS to come and transporting children to the emergency room.”

Every year, drowning causes over 4,000 deaths in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As pools in the Akron-area open, like Wadsworth Grizzly Pool shown here, and summer swimming begins, adults should be aware of steps they can take to avoid drowning for themselves and their children.
Every year, drowning causes more than 4,000 deaths in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As pools in the Akron-area open, like Wadsworth Grizzly Outdoor Pool shown here, and summer swimming begins, adults should be aware of steps they can take to avoid drowning for themselves and their children. (Kelsei Scott / Signal Akron)

Watch the water, keep phones down and eyes up

Whether at the lake or the beach, there should be a designated water watcher, an adult who scans in and around the water for signs of possible water incidents or emergencies. If there are multiple adults, water watchers should swap out every 15 minutes to eliminate distractions and stay alert.

In addition to keeping their eyes on the water, a water-watcher should:

  • Be CPR-certified.
  • Be alert and not be distracted by texting, talking or reading.
  • Keep a phone nearby to call emergency services.
  • Not consume or have alcohol and drugs around.
  • Practice touch supervision (stay in arm’s reach) for younger swimmers who are not comfortable swimming by themselves or don’t have strong swimming skills yet.

Water watchers should not be a swimmer’s younger siblings or other children. 

“We’re never going to rely on siblings or other children to supervise little kids,” Trnka said. “We’re always designating an adult to be that water-watcher.”

This is similar to what parents should expect from lifeguards. 

Akron’s community calendar

Looking for things to do in Akron? Signal Akron’s events calendar is your go-to guide for what’s happening across the city each week. From family-friendly festivals and outdoor concerts to art exhibits, food truck rallies, and neighborhood block parties, we’ve gathered events that showcase the energy and creativity of our community.

What are the right questions to ask at summer camps and swim lessons?

Wherever parents or guardians are dropping children off — including at swim lessons and summer camps — there are a series of water safety questions to consider asking to help inform you of the water safety measures in place and the supervision children may or may not have. 

“It might feel a little awkward, it might feel a little unnatural, but it might be enough to save your child’s life,” Trnka said.

Be sure to ask:

  • Who will be supervising the water?
  • How many lifeguards or supervisors are there per child? 
  • What is the child-to-supervisor ratio?
  • Are all the supervisors certified in CPR and first aid?
  • Will there be a phone available?

What should I be aware of around the pool area?

  • Is there an area for proficient swimmers? 
  • Is there a swim test? A swim test looks at how a child moves themselves through water, including via backstroke, freestyle or front pedal (doggy paddle). It also tests if the swimmer can float, exit the pool unassisted and tread water, Trnka said.
  • Are there areas of the pool where, if you are not a proficient swimmer, you are not permitted to go? Are these areas marked, and are children going to be aware of these areas?
  • How do you tell which child is a proficient swimmer and which is not?

Swim lessons have no age requirement

Swim lessons can start as early as age one. Local organizations offer classes from mommy and me to teenage and adult-only sessions. 

Swimmers of all ages enrolled in lessons could learn more than swimming techniques. For example, children could be learning to be at ease around water, ask before going in, enter feet first, navigate safely, and more useful swim tips. Adults could be learning to identify safety hazards, to swim confidently and the importance of brightly colored swimwear for children and supervisions

“That goes for adults,” Trnka said. “We know historically, if grownups don’t know how to swim, their kids don’t know how to swim.”

While swimming lessons are recommended by safety organizations such as the CDC and YMCA, swim lessons do not drownproof swimmers. This is because water conditions can quickly change. Also, some body types could float for extended periods, but safety tools such as life vests approved by the U.S. Coast Guard could prevent drownings and should be worn in lakes, natural bodies of water and boats. 

Where can I find swimming lessons in the Akron area?

  • YMCA’s “Safety Around Water” program opens yearly on a first-come, first-served basis to Akron Public Schools students through the 4th grade. Registration is accepted through submitting an advance waiver to your child’s school. Registration for summer 2026 has closed but can be found here.
  • Year-round swim lessons at Akron-area YMCA’s through paid memberships.
  • Shaw JCC Akron, discounted membership classes including mommy and me.

Where can I find free and paid membership pools in the Akron area?

  • Perkins Woods Pool (899 Diagonal Road), register for an open swim membership, admission is free. This pool is scheduled to open on Monday, June 8.

Community and Service Reporter (she/her)
Kelsei centers arts and culture, food and identity in her storytelling. She uses her professional experience and editorial skills to focus a community-first mindset and a strategic approach to her reporting. Kelsei’s previous reporting experiences include food, community and culture coverage at 225 Magazine in her hometown of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Kelsei is a recent alumna of Northwestern University and a 2023 graduate of Jackson State University.