Leading Causes of Drowning Incidents

Drowning incidents can affect individuals of all ages, and they can happen in any body of water. There are various causes of drowning incidents that are more common than others. Here, we want to review some of these leading causes of drowning incidents, and we hope this information gives individuals and families the information they need to begin their water safety planning. If your family experiences an incident, call our Houston drowning accident attorney for assistance with your case.

The Causes of Drowning Are Not Always Obvious

According to information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), children aged 1 to 4 have the highest rates of drowning, and this is the leading cause of death for children in that age range. Drowning is the second leading cause of death for children aged 5 through 14. However, it is critical to understand that drowning can happen to anybody. The CDC states that there are approximately 4,000 fatal unintentional drownings each year and 8,000 non-fatal drownings each year.

Some of the main causes of drowning are relatively obvious, but some are not. The CDC states that some of the factors that make drowning more likely include the following:

Not Being Able to Swim

Not being able to swim is a leading cause of drowning and near-drowning incidents in the US. If you or your loved ones know that you will be around bodies of water on a regular basis, please consider participating in formal swimming lessons by a certified instructor. Children who start learning to swim at a young age will face much fewer risks of drowning than those who have not had swimming lessons. Learning to swim is like riding a bike. Once you learn, you likely will not forget. Swimming lessons can save lives.

Missing Fencing

Every jurisdiction has regulations related to fencing that is required around residential pools as well as pools at public locations and business entities. This fencing must be of a certain height and have gates that latch in ways that children are not able to get through or over. The CDC states that a four-sided isolation fence that separates a pool area from a yard or house will reduce a kid’s risk of drowning by 83%. An accident caused by an unsafe property may be grounds for a premises liability lawsuit in Houston.

Alcohol Usage

Alcohol impairs judgment and affects a person’s balance, coordination, and risk-taking behaviors. The CDC states that approximately 70% of deaths associated with water recreation involve alcohol use. Additionally, 25% of emergency department visits for drowning involve alcohol, and around 20% of all reported boating deaths are alcohol-related.

If you know that you will be participating in any type of water activity, you need to significantly curtail your alcohol intake.

Lack of Supervision

Children must be supervised when they are in a pool or around any other body of water. Drownings can happen very quickly and quietly in any place where there is water. Because children are most likely to experience drowning or near drowning incidents, it is up to adults to properly supervise them in Pool areas, in the ocean, around lakes or streams, and even in the bathtub.

No Lifejackets

Life jackets are designed to save lives, and not just with boating activities. However, the CDC shows that US Coast Guard statistics indicate that 81% of all boating deaths in 2021 were the result of drowning and that 83% of those individuals were not wearing life jackets when the drowning occurred.