GREEN LAKE COUNTY, Wis. — A lot of fun happens in and around the water during Wisconsin summers, but if you're not careful, that can be dangerous.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are more than 4,000 drowning deaths in the U.S. every year.

What You Need To Know

  • There are more than 4,000 drowning deaths in the U.S. every year, according to the CDC

  • In Wisconsin, the drowning rate is below the national average

  • Drowning is a leading cause of death for kids, per the CDC. It is the leading cause of death for kids between the ages of 1 to 4 and the second leading cause of death for kids between the ages of 5 to 14

In Wisconsin, the drowning rate is 1.2 deaths per 100,000 people, which is below the national average of 1.3 deaths per 100,000 people, according to the CDC. In the U.S., July is the worst month for drowning deaths, followed by June and August.

Chief Deputy Matthew Vande Kolk of the Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office said a lot of what deputies respond to involve people not wearing their personal floatation devices and bad decisions related to alcohol.

The sheriff's office has a boat patrol that covers Green Lake and other lakes, including Puckaway.

Vande Kolk said he's noticed people, especially in kayaks and canoes, have flotation devices with them but are not wearing them.

"Obviously on busy lakes and waterways in the middle of the summer, it's very important to have that on, because when that bad thing happens —   whatever it may be — wearing it is what's going to save you from drowning, not merely just having it with you," he pointed out. 

Watch the full interview with Vande Kolk above.

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