Drowning is one of the leading causes of death among children, with an estimated 360,000 drowning deaths worldwide each year. While drowning can happen to anyone, regardless of age or swimming ability, children are particularly vulnerable, as they are often not able to swim or recognize the dangers of water. This article will explore some of the statistics related to drowning deaths of children, as well as ways to reduce the risk and keep children safe.
Tragic Statistics
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional injury death worldwide, accounting for 7% of all injury-related deaths. The vast majority of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, where resources are limited and access to safe swimming lessons is often not available.
In the United States, drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death in children ages 1-4, and the second leading cause of unintentional death in children ages 5-14. For every death, five more children are treated in emergency rooms for nonfatal drowning injuries.
Drowning Deaths of Children
The majority of drowning deaths of children occur in the summer months, when children are more likely to be around water. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most drowning deaths of children occur in swimming pools, followed by bathtubs, natural water settings such as rivers and lakes, and then open-water settings such as oceans and bays.
In addition, the CDC reports that children ages 1-4 are most likely to drown in home swimming pools, while children ages 5-14 are most likely to drown in natural water settings. Among children ages 1-4, African American children are at highest risk for drowning, followed by Hispanic and White children.
The CDC also reports that non-Hispanic African American children are nearly three times more likely to drown than non-Hispanic White children. It is important to note that children of all races and ethnicities are at risk for drowning and that all children should be taught proper water safety skills.
These statistics are a sobering reminder of the dangers of water, especially for children. To reduce the risk of drowning, it is important to ensure that children are supervised at all times when they are near water and that they are taught proper water safety skills. By taking these steps, we can help keep children safe and reduce the number of tragic drowning deaths.
The unfortunate reality is that drowning is one of the leading causes of death among children worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 200,000 children aged 5 years or under drown each year, making it the leading cause of death in this age group. An additional 360,000 are hospitalized for near-drowning incidents.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that, in the United States alone, around 10 people die from unintentional drownings every day; this includes children who are 18 and under. In 2017, of the 3,786 fatal unintentional drownings that were reported in the United States, almost one in four of those deaths was of a child aged 14 or under.
Unfortunately, many of these deaths could have been prevented. The CDC reports that almost 70 percent of the child drownings in 2017 occurred in a swimming pool. The majority (83 percent) of the children who drowned in a pool were not expected to be swimming when the incident occurred. This suggests a lack of supervision, and the need for greater awareness of water safety among both children and adults.
It is clear that drowning is an ongoing risk to children, and that more needs to be done to prevent these tragic accidents. Awareness campaigns, as well as improved drowning prevention measures, are crucial in reducing these terrible statistics.