Water Safety

Facts & Figures

Water sports and other water related activities are a source of joy for many people. While these activities are fun and recreational, it is essential to understand the dangers that are involved when people are in or around bodies of water.

Know the facts.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has declared that drowning is among the leading causes of accidental injuries and deaths for people of all ages. According to the CDC, "In 2005, there were 3,582 fatal unintentional drownings in the United States, averaging ten deaths per day. An additional 710 people died, from drowning and other causes, in boating-related incidents."

Children drownings

The statistics for child drowning victims are terrifying. They show that drowning is the number 2 leading cause of death related to injury for children who are ages 1 to 14. In fact, one out of four victims of drowning are under the age of 14, and nearly four times that many children are brought to the hospital every year following water related injuries. Out of this group, an estimated 15% of the patients have died while in the hospital, and 20% more will have permanent neurological disorders.

Causes of child drownings

A child can drown in a very small amount of water. Every year children drown in natural bodies of water, tubs, toilets and most commonly, pools. It only takes a few minutes for a child to drown - reports show that most victims had only been away from their parents or guardians for under 5 minutes time. One of the reasons child drownings can go unnoticed is that children are unlikely to splash around or call out when they fall into the water. It is far more likely that they will not make a sound.

Adult Drownings

Reports from the CDC made in 2005 indicate that men are four times more likely to drown than women. Many studies have shown that adult males have much stronger swimming skills than adult females. So why is the drowning rate so much higher for men? There are two primary factors.

Causes

No life vests. A vest can be a life saving tool for anyone who is trapped in the water for an extended period of time. In 2006 the United States Coast Guard issued statistics regarding boating accidents that year. It was determined that 70% of the 710 victims who died because of these accidents had drowned. The Coast Guard gave an estimate that at least 423 of these people may have survived had they been wearing life vests.

Alcohol. Study after study has shown that the use of alcohol is the leading cause of death from drowning. Some figures claim that half of all deaths related to boating accidents and drowning were due to the use of alcohol. It is absolutely imperative that anyone participating in water related activities not drink.

Don't be a statistic.

There are steps you can take to be safe when in the water. Start with learning to swim, wearing a life vest and not drinking alcohol. When you are going out to any body of water, first check the weather report for the day and make sure conditions will be safe. If a storm is coming, postpone your trip. You should also be aware of your physical limits when swimming or playing any sport in the water. Many drowning victims simply tire and can not make it back to shore. Be sure to get out of the water when you are getting tired.

The best way to protect your children from drowning is to supervise them as much as possible. Do not leave younger children in a bath, pool or any other body of water alone for any amount of time. Parents with young children and pools can invest in a fence that goes all around the pool so the kids can not get in. As soon as the children are old enough, enroll them in courses for swimming lessons so they can learn how to handle themselves in the water.

One final life saving tip is to learn CPR. When a person has been under water and stopped breathing, performing CPR may resuscitate them, but it must be done within a few minutes, so there is no time to waste. By the time medical professionals could make it to the scene, it may be too late. Learning CPR and practicing safety techniques will help ensure that your time in the water will be fun and secure.