Drowning Risks Rise in Youth Open Water Across Demographics
Safe Kids Worldwide reports open water drownings impact teens and younger children, with 80 percent of deaths among boys in open water. Racial gaps show higher drowning rates for Black and Native American youths, driven by access and safety program variations. Officials urge life jackets, lifeguards, and family safety culture, plus swimming lessons across Iowa communities.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Peek- Asa
Peek-Asa
Marina Gorsuch
St. Catherine University
St. Paul
Minn
Review of
Florida
Gorsuch
Iowa
Iowa drownings claim several young lives this season
Samuel Hake, 17, Nashua, died May 26 while swimming at an abandoned quarry near Ionia. Edgar Garcia, 16, Omaha, died May 28 after tubing with siblings and slipping under at Lake Manawa beach in Council Bluffs. Celeste Sandoval-Ramos, 2, Perry, died June 19 after being pulled from water at Big Creek State Park near Polk City. Sandyn Short, 9, Tama, died June 19 after 50 minutes underwater at Rock Creek State Park in Jasper County. Ikran Noor, 6, died June 23 after being submerged in Gray's Lake in Des Moines for about 20 minutes. Resuscitation failed. she died at Blank Children's Hospital.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Samuel Hake
Nashua
Chickasaw Park
Ionia
Edgar Garcia
Omaha
Lake Manawa Beach
Council Bluffs
KETV
Celeste Sandoval-Ramos
Perry
Big Creek State Park
Polk City
Sandyn Short
Tama
Rock Creek State Park
Jasper County
Ikran Noor
Gray’s Lake
Des Moines
Blank Children’s Hospital
Tips for Reducing Open Water Risks
Advice from Safe Kids Worldwide and UI College of Public Health urges using designated swimming areas and supervising children within arm's reach. Emphasizes life jackets over floaties, water toys do not prevent drowning, and stresses swimming lessons, CPR, and basic water rescue skills.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Coast Guard
New Iowa laws tighten liquor, self promotion, school safety
Several measures affect public and private schools requiring security plans by June 30 2019 and ban shaming students over meal debt. New drunk driving rules mandate ignition interlocks for first offenders and cap lawsuits against venues serving alcohol. A nurse prompts prescribing checks for opioids, a good Samaritan immunity law debuts, and municipalities must cooperate with federal immigration authorities. The legislation aims to curb doctor shopping reduce self promotion and boost public safety amid mixed support from officials.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Reynolds
Iowa
Also Mentioned on This Page
Hammarmeister
Iowa Dnr
American Red Cross
Des Moines Park
Iowa City
Matthew Eckhardt
Erin Jordan
Thegazette.com
Hannah Schroeder
the Gazette
Veda Hammarmeister
Cedar Rapids
Cassie Hammarmeister
Jesse Hammarmeister
Lake Macbride
Safe Kids Worldwide
Sorvine PeekAsa
University of Iowa College of Public Health
Sin
Jordan
Jowans
Michael Fitzgerald
Associated Press
The
Democrat
State Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board
Kim Reynolds
State Licensing Board
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