Cottage Health Trauma Center: Doctors seeing more water related injuries in Santa Barbara

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Health experts in Santa Barbara have been seeing more water-related injuries in recent weeks.

For every child that drowns, doctors at Cottage Health say that they see eight children that have a non-fatal drowning.

Even though adults are present, they believe it is critical for someone to be a designated "water watcher," or someone who is constantly watching the pool while the kids are in it.

People get distracted and they think someone else may be watching, when it’s not always the case.

As doctors explain, drownings happen quickly.

They’re not loud or dramatic. They are silent and fast.

The Cottage Health team wants to tell parents that the best protection against drowning is constant supervision.

Young kids can drown in an inch of water in kitty pools because they have big heavy heads and can fall forward. 

In open water, medical experts say always swim in designated areas.

Children who don’t know how to swim should wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket 

According to Cottage Health, 44% of drownings nationwide happen in the summer.