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Drowning Statistics

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Unintentional drowning rates are on the rise [1]. Drowning is a leading cause of death, especially in children between the ages of one and four. Older children and adults are also at risk of fatal and non-fatal drowning.

Learning the most common causes can help families take certain precautions to reduce their risk of drowning. Basic swim skills and injury prevention are also crucial for drowning prevention.

Here are a few vital statistics to know about drowning accidents.

drowning statistics and fatalities

Drowning Rates

The CDC reports that each year, 4,000 fatal drowning accidents occur, which means 11 per day. Another 8,000 nonfatal drowning incidents occur each year, or 22 per day [5]. 

Drowning deaths were declining year over year until a recent uptick in more occurrences [14]. 

Unintentional drowning deaths of children ages 1 to 4 increased the most, by 28%, from 2019 to 2022 [3].

Drowning is the third leading cause of all unintentional injury death rates worldwide and is responsible for 7% of reported cases [4]. This translates to an estimated 236,000 annual drowning deaths each year worldwide [4]. 

Drowning Rates in Illinois

The state of Illinois reports 1.06 drowning deaths per 100,000 population, slightly lower than the national average of 1.31 deaths per 100,000 people [5]. 

In 2023 alone, 20 Illinois children lost their lives to drowning [6]. These occurrences happened in swimming pools, bathtubs, lakes, ponds, washing machines, and water parks. This highlights the importance of more drowning prevention strategies.

Common Causes of Drowning

Drowning is a leading cause of unintentional injury and death. Common causes of drowning include the following:

  • Flooding or other weather events: Flood weather events cause more deaths yearly than thunderstorms [8].
  • Lack of pool barriers: A lack of pool barriers is a leading cause of unintentional deaths related to drowning. The American Red Cross reports that using a four-sided isolation fence separating the pool from the home reduces the risk of a child drowning by 83% [9]. 
  • Inability to swim: Swimming lessons can significantly reduce the risk of drowning. It’s estimated that as many as 40 million people don’t know how to swim and have never taken swim lessons [10]. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that swim lessons may minimize the potential economic losses of drowning by $400 billion in total, helping to protect communities [4].
  • Unsupervised swimming: Public pools or waterways without lifeguards on duty can lead to more drowning cases.

Where Do Drowning Accidents Occur?

Understanding where water-based accidents most often occur can also help residents reduce drowning risk. Water safety should be a priority in the following locations:

  • Home: Children under the age of one year are more likely to suffer unintentional injury, death, or drowning while at home [2]. 88% of drowning deaths in children younger than five occur at a home pool or hot tub [2].
  • Natural water sources: Children between the ages of five and 17 are more likely to experience drowning in nearby natural water sources [2]. 
  • Lake Michigan: Almost half of all Great Lake drownings happen in Lake Michigan [11]. Many Illinois cities offer increased access to Lake Michigan, putting residents at a higher risk.

Who’s at Risk of Drowning Accidents?

Some ages and races are at an increased risk of drowning accidents.

Age

Young children are at the highest risk of drowning deaths. Drowning is the number one cause of death for children in the age range of one through four [1]. It is also the second leading cause of death in children between the ages of 5 and 14 [12]. Of the ten drowning deaths reported each day in the United States, two are under the age of 14 years [2].

Adults are also at risk of unintentional drowning deaths. The rates of drowning in people ages 15 to 24 are increasing, with a 31% increase from 2019 to 2020 [3]. Those between the ages of 15 and 34 reported the most significant surge in drowning death rates, with many experts believing that alcohol may be to blame [13]. 

Older adults over the age of 65 years are also at an increased risk of drowning [14]. Those over 85 years reported a 29.4% increase in drowning accidents from 2019 until now [15]. 

Race

The highest drowning rates are among non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native individuals. Black Americans are also at a higher risk of drowning incidents [1]. African American children between the ages of five and 19 are 5.5 times more likely to drown in a swimming pool than when compared to Caucasian children in the same age range [16]. 

Swimming Skills

Those who don’t know how to swim are at a significantly higher risk of unintentional drowning accidents. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that as many as 40 million or 15.4% of people in the United States don’t know how to swim [1]. 

Over half of U.S. residents have never taken a swimming lesson. Swimming lessons teach Americans critical water safety skills and drowning prevention techniques.

Disability

Both adults and children with cognitive disability, like autism spectrum disorder, are 160 times more likely to experience nonfatal or fatal drowning [17]. This may be due to a lack of swimming skills or limited supervision near pools or waterways.

Location

Those with easy access to swimming pools or bodies of water are more at risk of both nonfatal and fatal drowning incidents [4]. Unsecured swimming pools or lakefront properties are a top cause of unintentional injury and drowning.

Other risk factors for unintentional drowning deaths included lower socioeconomic status, males, and drinking alcohol while in or near waterways [4].

Liability in a Drowning Accident

Drowning rates in the United States and Illinois are on the rise. Drownings can be more risky to younger children and teens than motor vehicle crashes. 

Accidental drowning is a leading cause of young children’s deaths and the second leading cause of older children’s deaths. Water safety skills can help prevent drowning accidents. However, negligence and defective pool barriers can also be to blame.

Even those who experience nonfatal drowning can have lifelong conditions and complications. Drowning can lead to the victim experiencing respiratory impairment or cause brain damage. You may be eligible for compensation if negligence caused you or a loved one to suffer a permanent injury.

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers help drowning victims recover the compensation they need to cover medical bills and lost wages.

Contact us today at (888) 424-5757 for a free consultation.

Resources: [1] Centers for Disease Control, [2] American Red Cross, [3] American Academy of Pediatrics, [4] World Health Organization, [5] CDC Drowning Prevention, [6] The State of Illinois, [7] CDC Morbidity and Mortality Report, [8] National Weather Service, [9] Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal, [10] CNN Health, [11] Chicago Tribune, [12] Commonwealth of Massachusetts, [13] LiveScience, [14] NPR, [15] FOX Weather, [16] Stop Drowning Now, [17] Autism Society of Florida

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