Indiana Drowning Prevention

What Does Drowning Look Like? Warning Signs Every Parent Should Know Drowning is often silent, fast, and easy to miss. Knowing the real warning signs can help save a life. Many people picture drowning as loud, dramatic, and obvious. In real life, it often is not. A person in trouble may be quiet, vertical in the water, unable to move forward, or even motionless and face down. That matters because drowning remains a serious public health problem in the United States. The CDC reports that more than 4,500 people drowned each year from 2020 to 2022, and drowning is the leading cause of death among children ages 1 to 4. Drowning often does not look like the movies The American Red Cross says a swimmer needs immediate help if they are not making forward progress, are vertical in the water but unable to move or tread water, or are motionless and face down. The Red Cross also emphasizes that adults must stay with children even when...

Indianapolis, Indiana — March 23, 2026 — The Indiana Drowning Prevention Corp today announced the launch of the Goal Zero Life Ring Initiative, the organization’s first major fundraising and community safety project. The initiative will focus on purchasing and installing life rings at high-risk water locations across Indiana, including areas near ponds, lakes, rivers, retention basins, and other public access points where water emergencies can occur. The project is designed to place simple, visible, and immediately accessible rescue equipment where it can help save lives before emergency responders arrive. In a drowning emergency, the first few minutes are critical. A properly placed life ring can provide flotation to a victim and give a bystander a safer rescue option from shore. “This is a simple project with a clear purpose: put life-saving equipment where it can help save lives,” said Bryan Fleck, President and CEO of the India...