South Shore University Hospital medical staff offer tips to reduce drownings

The most drownings in New York State between 2024 and last year — 70% — occurred in Suffolk County. On Wednesday, physicians at a Bay Shore hospital, which, like many others on Long Island, sees its share of drownings throughout the year, met at a home in the hamlet with a backyard pool for a safety demonstration designed to reduce that percentage, which Newsday previously reported.

"Many people think drownings are these big, loud processes, but unfortunately, drownings are actually what we call the 'silent killer,' " said Dr. Jerry Rubano, a trauma surgeon at South Shore University Hospital, who took part in the demonstration at the home on Montgomery Avenue attended by Newsday and other media outlets.

"Most times," Rubano added, "people aren't splashing in the pool calling for help."

The demonstration took place ahead of World Drowning Prevention Day on Saturday.

Nationwide, drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death for children between the ages of 1 and 4. In that age group, 452 children fatally drowned in 2025, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

At a pool party, it's especially important that adults are focused while watching children swim.

During the demonstration, Rubano displayed a "Water Watcher Card," a badge that can be worn by an appointed adult while watching swimmers. The person wearing this badge should avoid phone use, lengthy conversations and other distractions. To ensure the needs of both the swimmers and the watchers are met, adults can rotate this role, Rubano said.

He and other South Shore physicians urged parents to shop for neon swimsuits for their children. It can take under 30 seconds for someone to drown, especially a child, according to Dr. Debby Yanes.

Wearing bright colors can improve the watcher's ability to keep track of children in the water, especially those who might already be submerged, whether it's in a pool, at the beach or in a lake.

Children should wear neon pink, yellow and green, as opposed to "colors that are going to blend in with the water or the liner of the pool," said Hayle Boyle, director of operations for South Shore's trauma unit.

Boyle and Rubano sank two swimsuits, one neon yellow and one light blue, to the bottom of the home's swimming pool. The yellow swimsuit was easy to spot, while the blue swimsuit was almost invisible.

Unintentional drownings, both fatal and nonfatal, totaled 792 nationally in July 2025 alone, according to the CDC. Between 2021 and 2025, July, typically among the hottest months of the year, saw the highest amount of unintentional drownings, the CDC found. In the past 12 months, 18 people in Suffolk County have died of unintentional drowning, while none were reported in Nassau, according to the CDC.

Yanes said the hospital has treated children and adults for nonfatal drowning. It can still be considered drowning when someone has survived respiratory impairment, she added.

Coughing and changes in skin color are other signs that emergency medical assistance is needed, according to Yanes.

For those nonfatal cases, it's important to be aware of developing symptoms, both Yanes and Rubano said. Even with survival, some people might still need medical attention. Symptoms like vomiting and shortness of breath can be a signal.

"They can get sick over the next six to 24 hours," Rubano said.