US records rising number of drownings in lakes, rivers and backyard pools
Source: The Guardian
US records rising number of drownings in lakes, rivers and backyard pools
2020 already a more deadly year on lakes than 2019
Heatwaves and swimming lesson hiatus among factors
Mike Jordan in Atlanta
Sun 11 Jul 2021 11.30 BST
Rising numbers of drownings are being reported in lakes, rivers, backyard pools and other bodies of inland water across the US this summer, amid factors such as early season severe heatwaves and children having missed out on swimming lessons during the pandemic.
Almost three dozen drownings have been reported in the Great Lakes alone in the year up to the Fourth of July holiday weekend, at least 34 compared with 25 in the same period of 2020, according to statistics gathered by the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, a non-profit safety organization.
And 2020 had already been a more deadly year on the lakes than 2019.
The Pacific north-wests heat dome-related surge to record temperatures has already been blamed for a spate of water deaths in inland Washington state last month.
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Read more:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jul/11/drownings-rising-us-lake-rivers-pools