Facts About Water Safety and Drowning Prevention
The following data, along with other research on drowning prevention and water safety can be found on the websites of: the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Drowning & Prevention Alliance and the National Autism Association
How big is the problem?
• Drowning is the fourth leading cause of death globally for children aged 1-4 and the third leading cause for children 5-14. Together, children under 15 account for 43% of all drowning deaths worldwide—with those under 5 representing 24% and children 5-14 representing 19%.
• According to the CDC more than 4,500 people drowned each year in the United States from 2020–2022. This is about 500 more drowning deaths each year compared to 2019. Recent increases in drowning rates, including those among populations already at high risk, have increased the urgency of implementing prevention strategies.
• For every child under age 18 who dies from drowning, another 7 receive emergency department care for non-fatal drowning. Nearly 40% of drownings treated in emergency departments require a hospital stay or transfer for further care. This is 3x higher than the number of other unintentional injuries that require follow-up care.
• Drowning risk in the U.S. is higher during the month of July than any other month of the year with almost 17% of total annual drownings happening in July.
CDC Fatal Injury Trends
• According to a research study conducted by the American Red Cross in 2020, 56% of kids ages 4-17 cannot perform the basic water safety skills they need to save their own life.
Who is most at risk?
• People with autism: Drowning is the leading cause of death for children and adults with autism.
Children with autism are 160 times more likely to drown than the general pediatric population.
• Males: Nearly 80 percent of people who die from drowning in the United States are male. The drowning rate for males nearly triples at age 15.
• Children: Children ages 1 to 4 have the highest drowning rates. Among children ages 1 to 4, most
drownings occur in home swimming pools. Almost 70% of childhood drownings happen during non-swim times. 88% of child drownings happen with at least one adult present.
• Some racial and ethnic groups: Drowning doesn’t discriminate, anyone can drown. But drowning death rates for American Indian and Alaskan Native people under 30 are two times higher than rates for white people. Drowning death rates for Black children ages 5-14 are three times higher than rates for white people. Disparities are highest among Black children ages 5-9 (rates 2.6 times higher) and ages 10-14 (rates 7.6 times higher) than white children in swimming pools.
Available rates are based on population, not on participation. If rates could be determined by actual participation in water-related activities, the disparity in drowning rates between some racial and ethnic groups would likely be much greater.
What has research found?
• Participation in formal swimming lessons can significantly reduce the risk of drowning among children ages 1-4 years.
Brenner RA, Taneja GS, Haynie DL, Trumble AC, Qian C, Klinger RM, Klevanoff MA. Association between swimming lessons and drowning in childhood: A case-control study. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine 2009;163(3):203-10.
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