LOS ANGELES, May 14 (Xinhua) -- Drowning deaths are on the rise in the United States, following decades of decline, according to a new study released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Tuesday.

Over 4,500 people died due to drowning each year from 2020 to 2022, 500 more per year compared to 2019, according to the study.

CDC experts looked at drowning deaths, self-reported swimming skills, participation in swimming lessons, and exposure to recreational water for this study.

The report explored how increased access to basic swimming and water safety skills training can save lives.

"CDC's drowning prevention experts collected high-quality drowning data to better understand how we can protect people in communities across the United States," said Debra Houry, CDC's chief medical officer.

"Understanding the barriers people face to accessing basic swimming and water safety skills training can help us better understand how to address those barriers, decrease drowning rates, and save lives," Houry said.