Karen Cohn, founder of The ZAC Foundation, said that in 2020, backyard pool sales increased by 400% by some sources. Those numbers mean children may be at a greater risk of drowning this summer since most drownings occur in home pools.

“This is due to a lapse in supervision, it’s not a lack of supervision but a lapse in supervision. Parents don’t realize that child has snuck into the pool area or has fallen in. Whether swimming in your own backyard pool, at the beach or elsewhere, it is essential that water and swim safety are top of mind,” Cohn stated.

With the holiday weekend closing in, state law enforcement are also warning adults about unsafe behavior.

“During last year’s enforcement period for the July 4th holiday, state police arrested 29 individuals for operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. So going into this year’s July 4th weekend we just want to make sure everyone is remaining safe,” State Police Trooper Josue Dorelus said.

Dorelus advised people to use ride share companies or assign a designated driver to prevent accidents on the road this weekend. If motorists witness other motorists acting inappropriately on the road during the holiday, he suggested they call their local law enforcement.