State authorities warn that summer increases the risk near pools, bathtubs, lakes, beaches and any place with standing water. Learn some safety recommendations for pools.
Texas records 38 child drownings in 2026, according to data from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) updated on June 17.
In Harris County, the state agency records four child drownings this year. Fort Bend County and Montgomery County report three cases each, while Galveston County records one.
The statewide figure includes cases in backyard pools, apartment complex pools, lakes, ponds, beaches, rivers, canals, bathtubs and other places with water.
Summer increases risk near water
DFPS notes that summer is one of the seasons with the highest risk for girls and boys because many families spend more time in pools, beaches, water parks, lakes or water-play yards.
Children under five, especially the youngest, are among the groups at greatest risk. In several cases reported this year in Texas, deaths occurred in backyard pools or apartment pools.
In Harris County, the four cases recorded by DFPS occurred in a backyard pool or a bathtub. The ages reported by the agency were 3 years, 6 years, 2 years and 10 months.
In Fort Bend County, the three cases registered occurred in a creek, a pond and a lake. In Montgomery County, the reported places were a storage tank, an apartment pool and a pool.
Drowning can occur in as little as a few minutes
DFPS warns that drowning can occur in nearly any amount of water, indoors or outdoors. The agency also notes that it can occur in a few minutes.
Get Parenting Tips, a resource from Texas Health and Human Services, indicates that children aged 1 to 4 have the highest drowning rates and that risk is not limited to pools, lakes or rivers.
In babies and young children, bathtubs, buckets, toilets, inflatable pools, water sensory tables, and containers left unemptied can also pose a risk. Drowning can be silent and occur in seconds.
Where to swim for free in Houston: pools, splash pads and water parks
Adult supervision remains the first line of safety
The Houston Department of Health identifies direct adult supervision as one of the main layers of protection against drownings.
The city uses the concept of “water watcher,” a designated adult to watch children while they are in the water. That person remains free of distractions, including phones, conversations or parallel activities.
Houston Health also includes other layers of protection: swimming classes, CPR training, proper fences around pools, doors closed, alarms and auto-closing gates.
The local agency notes that no child is “drown-proof,” so safety measures work best when combined.
Home pools require physical safety barriers
Home pools, spas and hot tubs require safety barriers that prevent access by small children when supervision is not present.
Houston Department of Health indicates that fences around pools should be at least five feet high, with an automatic self-closing gate and an automatic latch. Doors and windows that give access to the pool should also remain closed and alarmed when possible.
Get Parenting Tips notes that large inflatable pools can be as dangerous as in-ground pools if they remain with water or without a closed barrier.
Toys inside or near the pool can also attract small children. After using inflatable pools, water toys or water tables, the water should be removed and the objects stored in a place where they cannot fill with rainwater.
Swimming and safety classes are available in Houston
Houston Parks and Recreation offers free swimming classes for youth through the H2OSafe program, with levels for beginners, intermediate, and advanced. Classes fill on a first-come, first-served basis during the available periods.
Houston public pools operate during the Memorial Day to Labor Day season. The general schedule published by Houston Parks and Recreation is Tuesday to Saturday from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Sundays from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., and holidays from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Pools close on Mondays.
Harris County Precinct 1 also offers a Learn-To-Swim program for children aged 6 to 18. Classes take place in four-week sessions, twice a week, and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.
YMCA of Greater Houston offers swimming and safety classes for babies, children, teens and adults, in addition to private, semi-private and adaptive options. Its Safety Around Water program is also offered at different community spaces throughout the year.
