Drowning: A Leading Cause of Death for Children

In the United States, drowning is a significant public safety concern, especially for children. Every year, about 4,000 lives are lost to unintentional drowning - translating to an average of 11 drowning deaths per day. Furthermore, there are twice as many non-fatal drownings, with around 22 incidents occurring daily.

Drowning stands as the number one cause of death for children aged 1-4 years. It is also the leading cause of death for both children and adults with autism, who are nearly 40 times more likely to die from drowning compared to the general population. Among children aged 5-14, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury deaths, coming after motor vehicle accidents.

The Most Dangerous Locations Vary by Age

The risk locations for drowning change as children grow. Infants under one year are most likely to drown at home. For children under five, a staggering 87% of drowning incidents occur in home pools or hot tubs, often owned by family or friends. Following pools, the most dangerous locations are bathtubs, though buckets, bath seats, wells, cisterns, septic tanks, decorative ponds, and even toilets pose risks for young children. For youths aged 5 to 17, natural water bodies like lakes or ponds become more common sites for drowning.

Drowning Risks Across Different Demographics

Drowning risk is further influenced by racial and socioeconomic factors. Statistics indicate that 64% of African-American, 45% of Hispanic/Latino, and 40% of Caucasian children have minimal swimming skills. The likelihood of children possessing swim skills significantly decreases when their parents also lack swimming competence:

 

 

• 78% of African-American children

 

 

• 62% of Hispanic/Latino children

 

 

• 67% of Caucasian children

 

 

African-American children aged 5 to 19 are 5.5 times more likely to drown in swimming pools than Caucasian children in the same age group. Additionally, 79% of children from households with incomes under $50,000 have limited or no swimming skills.

Addressing the Drowning Crisis

Raising awareness about the dangers of drowning and improving swim skills across communities is crucial to preventing these tragedies. Programs focusing on swim instruction, particularly targeting low-income households and minority groups, can contribute significantly to reducing drowning risks. By fostering educational and accessible safety programs, we can strive to protect all children and adults from the varied risks of drowning in Washington State and beyond.