After pool drownings of children 5 and under reached a five-year high last year in Virginia, state health officials are urging families to take a “safe swimming pledge” as pools open for the season.
In 2025, there were 12 accidental drownings of children aged 5 and under in Virginia — more than the nine reported over the prior three years: three in 2024, two in 2023 and four in 2022. Virginia reported 473 drownings in all bodies of water between 2020 and 2024.
Briana Bill, an environmental health coordinator with the Virginia Department of Health, told ALXnow some of the drownings happened at apartment complex pools and backyard pools. She says it can take just 20 to 60 seconds for a person to drown.
“Families should know that drowning does not look dramatic like it does in the movies or on TV. It’s not splashing, and there’s not a lot of yelling,” Bill said. “Drowning is often very quiet, and it happens quickly. So what happens is a person, when their body recognizes the fact that they are about to go under the water, it goes into an instinctive drowning response, and it tries to make them push themselves out of the water, and what it kind of looks like is someone climbing a ladder so they’re vertical in the water.”
VDH’s safe swimming pledge asks residents to never leave children unattended near water, designate a water watcher free of distractions when children are swimming, ensure children know how to swim, learn CPR and how to use lifesaving items such as throw rings and reaching poles, and ensure private pools have proper fences, gates, safe drain covers and portable ladders that are removed when not in use.
“We all know it’s pretty hot out there, and one of the best ways to cool off is to get wet,” Bill said. “Whether you’re going to the pool or you’re going to the lake or the river or the ocean, while those things can be quite enjoyable, they also present a lot of hazards, especially if you have small children in tow.”
Pools open to the public and at apartment complexes and swim clubs, as well as public beaches, typically have lifeguards on duty during the summer. While lifeguards are trained to respond to emergencies, Bill urges parents not to rely solely on lifeguards to prevent drownings. She says parents who observe their child in distress can notify a lifeguard for help.
“There might be one or two lifeguards observing a very large area with a lot of people, and they’re human, just like the rest of us,” Bill said. “They might not be able to see every instance. They also don’t know your child like you do, right? So they don’t know their limitations, they don’t know their ways of playing. So you, as a parent, might be able to dial in on an issue faster.”
Bill stresses the importance of the supervising adult remaining free of distractions.
“They are actively engaged in scanning the pool. They are looking at the pool bottom to make sure no one’s there that’s not responsive on the bottom of the pool,” Bill said. “They’re actively looking for any kind of children that might be in distress, and they’re making eye contact with the kids to make sure everyone is doing okay, and they are not engaging in conversation with other folks, they’re not reading books, they’re not getting up to leave.”
According to Bill, inner tubes and arm floaties are not Coast Guard-approved devices for keeping one’s head above water in an emergency. Families should look for life jackets with a Coast Guard approval label for better protection.
In Alexandria, pools are not the only hazard for children — people also get close to the Potomac River when visiting the city’s waterfront parks. Bill says ensuring family members know how to swim and knowing where rescue equipment is located are essential precautions if someone falls in the water.
“If you’re on the waterfront, are there rescue tubes, are there throw rings, are there reaching poles? If there are, where are they? How far might they reach?” Bill said. “Keeping an eye on the water, keeping an eye on the edge, avoiding roughhousing around that edge. I’d say just being aware of each other and looking out for each other would be essential.”
Bill also recommends being aware of dangerous currents. In rivers, she says currents can become stronger after recent rainfall and may contain submerged rocks and trees that swimmers can get caught on. At beaches, she recommends following posted warnings about currents and staying in designated swim areas.
If a drowning victim is pulled from the water and not breathing, CPR is recommended. Bill says the person should still go to the hospital to be evaluated even if rescue breaths revive them.
“Another family activity they can do together is first aid and CPR, and during CPR classes, you learn how to use an AED,” Bill said. “So, knowing what those are and how to do it is essential for families.”
Opening weekend hours for public pools in Alexandria are:
Memorial Pool at Charles Houston Recreation Center (901 Wythe St.)
Perfect for families with young children, this smaller pool features a beach entry and therapeutic-friendly amenities. Free parking available onsite.Opening Weekend Hours:
- May 23–25: 10 a.m.–4:45 p.m.
Warwick Pool (3301 Landover St.)
Features a six-lane lap pool, accessible ramp, beach entry, and shallow-depth design great for all ages. Playground located nearby.Opening Weekend Hours:
- May 23–May 24: 11 a.m.–5:45 p.m.
- May 25: 10 a.m.–4:45 p.m.
Old Town Pool (1609 Cameron St.)
Enjoy a large lap pool, diving well, and a nearby picnic area, playground, and courts for a full day of fun. Note: the smaller training pool will be closed for the 2026 season.Opening Weekend Hours:
- May 23–24: Noon–7:45 p.m.
- May 25: 10 a.m.–4:45 p.m.
Great Waves Waterpark (4001 Eisenhower Avenue)
Featuring seven slides, a wave pool, play pool, splash pad and more.Opening Weekend Hours:
May 23 – 25 (Memorial Day Weekend) Saturday – Monday 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Image via Brian Matangelo/Unsplash
