During the pandemic years of shuttered pools and difficult-to-find swim lessons, the drowning rate of very young children increased significantly in the U.S., following decades of declines, according to a new federal report. "Many public pools closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, which limited the availability of swim classes. For many families, swim lessons and safe swim areas remained difficult to come by. Last summer, some public pools cut their hours and swim lessons were canceled because lifeguards were so difficult to find. The CDC recommends that families begin swim lessons early — even while their children are babies.

Source: Los Angeles Times May 14, 2024 21:02 UTC