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Selective Injury Topics
- Asphyxia
- Bike Safety
- Bullying Prevention
- Child Care Safety
- Child Maltreatment
- Child Passenger Safety
- Fire & Burn Safety
- Home Safety
- Intimate Partner Violence
- Off Road Vehicles
- Pedestrian Safety
- Playground Safety
- Poison Prevention
- Rural & Farm Safety
- Sports Safety
- Suicide Prevention
- Teen Driving Safety
- Water Safety
- Young Worker Safety
- Youth Violence Prevention
Injury Topics
Water Safety
Definition: Childhood drowning and near-drowning can occur in a number of settings -- pools, hot tubs, beaches, lakes, bathtubs, and buckets. Activities such as boating, jet skiing, water skiing, sailing, and surfing are also associated with water-related injuries and fatalities. Most drownings happen when a child falls into a pool or is left alone in the bathtub. It can take only a couple of seconds for a child to drown, and drowning typically occurs when a child is left unattended or during a brief lapse in supervision.
Magnitude of the Problem:
- Approximately 838 children age 14 and under drowned in 2002.
- 1 in every 4 drowning victims is a child 4 years of age or younger.
- In 2003, approximately 200 children age 14 and under were injured while using personal watercraft equipment.
- The majority of fatal drownings in the U.S. are in the South and the West, and they are more likely to occur in rural rather than suburban or urban areas.
- African-Americans are at higher risk for - drowning - African-American children age 5-9 are 4.5 times more likely to drown in swimming pools than Caucasian children.
- Boys are 2 to 4 times more likely to drown than girls.
Prevention: Laws and regulations enacted to address water safety often concentrate on swimming pool regulations and personal flotation device mandates. According to the National Conference of State Legislators, at least 12 States have laws related to swimming pool safety, which may include: certified lifeguards on duty, fences, alarms, safety covers, light fixture requirements, and safe spa and pool drain standards.
Environmental protections (e.g., isolation pool fences and lifeguards) can protect children and youth from drowning. Other strategies include educating individuals about avoiding alcohol while participating in water activities; supervising children engaged in water activities; equipping swimmers, and those supervising them, with water safety skills; and CPR training.
Useful Publications
Spotlight on the State
Injury Prevention Links
- American Academy of Pediatrics: Water Safety
- CDC Home & Recreational Safety
- Home Safety Council
- Safe Kids USA
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
For more information or technical assistance, contact Jennifer Allison, CSN Assistant Director.