City and Rose Bowl Aquatics Center Mark Water Safety Month, Citing 39 Local Drowning Deaths Since 2007

According to the Pasadena Public Health Department, 39 drowning deaths involving Pasadena residents or occurring in Pasadena have been recorded over the past 19 years — an average of about two per year — with more than 23% of those deaths involving children under 18 and 31% involving adults 65 and older.

The City of Pasadena and the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center cited those figures Friday in a joint announcement for National Water Safety Month, urging residents to practice drowning-prevention habits as the swimming season opens. The agencies offered water-safety guidance for swimmers, parents, and home pool owners, and pointed residents — including those in Altadena who use Pasadena’s aquatics facilities — to year-round swim lessons through City programs and the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center, with financial assistance for qualifying families.

The Public Health Department data covers the period from 2007 to 2025, according to the joint announcement.

“Practicing water safety is key to anticipating and avoiding drowning and water-related injuries,” the City and the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center said in their joint statement.

The agencies advised residents to enroll in swim lessons to learn basic swimming skills, follow posted rules at pools and beaches, never swim alone and keep a swim buddy or guardian close by, never dive head-first into water less than nine feet deep, and use U.S. Coast Guard-approved flotation devices instead of water wings or inflatables.

The announcement also advised against swimming after consuming alcohol or medications that cause disorientation, and against swimming when sick or experiencing diarrhea, to prevent the spread of waterborne illnesses. The agencies referred residents seeking additional guidance to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

For children, the agencies advised constant supervision within arm’s reach and noted that children can drown in as little as one inch of water. The announcement directed caregivers to empty and store tubs, buckets, and small pools after use; keep toilet lids closed and bathroom and laundry doors shut; and install pool fencing on all sides with self-closing, self-latching gates at least four feet tall. If a child is missing, the agencies said, always check the water first.

The announcement also urged residents to learn CPR and basic water rescue skills, and referred parents and caregivers to the Safe Kids Worldwide website for additional resources.

Mayor Victor M. Gordo issued a proclamation May 1 declaring May 2026 as National Water Safety Month in Pasadena. In the proclamation, Gordo wrote that “swimming can play a vital role in maintaining good physical and mental health, building social connections, and enhancing quality of life,” and that “drowning is often caused by inadequate swimming skills, lack of supervision, and hazardous swimming conditions, and is a leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths worldwide.”

For homeowners, the City and the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center recommended keeping pools, hot tubs, and water features properly maintained with chlorine or bromine and balanced pH levels, noting that well-maintained pools help prevent illnesses such as swimmer’s itch, swimmer’s ear, and skin rashes.

To register for swim lessons through the City of Pasadena, residents can visit CityOfPasadena.net/Reserve or call (626) 744-7590.

For Rose Bowl Aquatics Center programs and lessons, residents can visit RoseBowlAquatics.org or call (626) 564-0330. Additional information is available at the City Service Center at (626) 744-7311 during weekday business hours.