Some
Startling Statistics
According to the U.S.
Lifesaving Association, drowning is the third leading cause
of unintentional death in the United States, and the second
leading cause of death for people ages 5 to 44. For children
ages 1 to 2, drowning is the leading cause of injury or
death.
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An extensive study on pool
safety by the Consumer Product Safety Commission yielded
some startling statistics. The investigation by the
Commission was directed at children under age five in
Arizona, California, and Florida who had drown in home
swimming pools. The results might help you to better
understand why drowning is still the number one killer for
three states and stands at number two for the nation:
Here are some statistics from that report, |
- In California, Arizona and
Florida, drowning is the leading cause of accidental death
in and around the home for children under the age of 5.
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- 75% of children involved in
swimming pool submersion or drowning accidents were between
1 and 3 years old.
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- Boys between 1 and 3 years
old are the most likely victims of fatal drowning accidents
and near-fatal submersions in residential swimming pools.
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- Most of the victims were
being supervised by one or both parents when the swimming
pool accident occurred.
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- Nearly half of the child
victims were last seen in the house before the pool accident
occurred. In addition, 23 percent of the accident victims
were last seen on the porch or patio or in the yard.
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- 65 percent of the accidents
occur in a pool owned by the victim's immediate family, and
33 percent of the accidents occurred in pools owned by
relatives or friends.
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- Fewer than 2 percent of the
pool accidents were a result of children trespassing on
property where they didn't live or belong.
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- Pool submersions involving
children happen quickly. A child can drown in the time it
takes to answer a phone call. 77 percent of the swimming
pool victims had been missing for five minutes or less when
they were found in the pool drowned or submerged.
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- Pool drownings are silent
deaths. It is unlikely that splashing or screaming will
occur to alert a parent or caregiver that a child is in
trouble.
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Pool
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