Statistics
Drowning is the leading cause of death for infants and young children in 18 states and nationally ranks second only to automobile accidents. It claims the lives of approximately 4,000 children each year and leaves another 12,000 with some form of permanent brain damage.
- Drowning is the second leading cause of injury-related death among children under the age of 15. (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- A swimming pool is 14 times more likely than a motor vehicle to be involved in the death of a child age four and under. (Orange County California Fire Authority)
- Children under five and adolescents between the ages of 15 and 24 have the highest drowning rates. (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- An estimated 5,000 children ages 14 and under are hospitalized due to unintentional drowning-related incidents each year; 15 percent die in the hospital and as many as 20 percent suffer severe, permanent neurological disability. (National Safety Council and Foundation for Aquatic Injury Prevention)
- Of all preschoolers who drown, 70 percent are in the care of one or both parents at the time of the drowning and 75 percent are missing from sight for five minutes or less. (Orange County Fire Authority)
- In 10 states - Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington – drowning surpasses all other causes of death to children age 14 and under. 86 percent of children who die are found after 10 minutes. Nearly all who require cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) die or are left with severe brain injury. (CDC)
- It is estimated that for each drowning death, there are one to four nonfatal submersions serious enough to require hospitalization. Children who still require cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) at the time they arrive at the emergency room have a poor prognosis, with at least half of survivors suffering significant neurologic impairment. (American Academy of Pediatrics)
- 19 percent of drowning deaths involving children occur in public pools with certified lifeguards present.
- 58 percent of parents do not consider drowning a threat to their children. (Safe Kids Coalition)