• Each year, 4,000 people die from drowning in the United States.
• Drowning remains in the top 4 causes of unintentional death until age 55.
• Drowning is the leading cause of death among children aged 1-4. No other single cause of death kills more toddlers and young children than drowning.
• Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death among children 5-9.
• 88% of children drown with at least 1 adult present.
• Nearly 70% of toddler drownings occur during nonswim time.
• Children and adults with autism and intellectual abilities are at a significantly higher risk of drowning.
• More than 60% of fatal drownings of 0-4-year-olds occur in swimming pools.
• For every child who dies from drowning, another 6-8 who receive emergency department care for nonfatal submersion injuries.
• More than 50% o f drowning victims treated in emergency departments require hospitalization or transfer for further care (compared with a hospitalization rate of about 6% for all unintentional injuries).
These nonfatal drowning injuries can cause severe brain damage that may result in longterm disabilities such as memory problems, learning disabilities, and permanent loss of basic functioning (e.g., permanent vegetative state).
• Nearly 80% of people who die from drowning are male.
• African-American children ages 5 to 19 drown in swimming pools at rates 5.5 times greater than those of Whites.
This disparity is greatest among those 11-12, where African-Americans drown in pools at rates 10 times those of Whites.
Drowning Statistics from the CDC, Safe Kids Worldwide and the National Drowning Prevention Alliance, NDPA.
