Swimming pool accidents happen at the rate of nine deaths a day in the United States. It is the second leading cause of injury accident deaths among children ages one through fourteen and is the LEADING cause of death for children ages 1-4. For toddlers up to age one – over half of the drowning occurs in buckets of water, the tub or the toilet. Another startling statistic is the fact that up to 19% of youth drowning occurs in public pools with certified life guards on duty.
Unfortunately, other statistics related to childhood drowning and other water accidents are equally as grim. For instance, nine out of ten childhood drowning deaths occur even though a parent or other caregiver offers that they were ‘watching’ the child or otherwise responsible for their safety.
Over 5000 youth experience nonfatal drowning each year. This means they were underwater and either lost consciousness or actually stopped breathing for a period of time before being revived. Of these 15% – or approximately 650 children – eventually expire and another thousand suffer permanent neurological disabilities.
Drowning deaths of children can also be traced to lake shores and other natural waterways that are unguarded by certified life saving personnel but can just as likely be overseen by lifeguards. Approximately one hundred children die each year in these circumstances.
There are several preventative measures that can help to ward off drowning deaths. First, watch your children with eagle eyes – do not count on a lifeguard or other child care giver to keep your child one hundred percent safe. Second, do not allow your child to swim in unguarded areas. Finally, give your children swimming lessons. They offer them to children as young as 6 months old. Give your child a fighting chance against water accidents.
Greg Baumgartner is a safety advocate and a Houston personal injury attorney.
