Drowning Prevention and Water Safety
Despite a 40 percent decline since 1987, drowning is still the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death to children ages 1 to 9, taking more than 900 children’s’ lives each year. For every child who drowns, four more are hospitalized for near-drowning; for every hospital admission, approximately four children are treated in hospital emergency rooms.
In 2015, drowning claimed the lives of approximately 3,600 people. Most drowning and near-drowning incidents happen when a child falls into a pool or is left alone in the bathtub.
Source: National Safety Council
Drowning is a quick and silent killer. In the time it takes to …
- Cross the room for a towel (10 seconds), a child in the bathtub can become submerged.
- Answer the phone (2 minutes), that child can lose consciousness.
- Sign for a package at your front door (4 to 6 minutes), a child submerged in the bathtub or pool can sustain permanent brain damage.
Knowledge is a powerful tool for combating these tragedies. Knowing how and where children drown, as well as the concrete steps you can take to avoid danger, may make a life-and-death difference for your family. Click on these Safety Fact Sheets to help improve your water safety knowledge:
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