Updated: June 4, 2023
Originally Published: May 22, 2023
As summer approaches, families gear up for a season filled with trips to lakes, rivers, beaches, and swimming pools. However, a recent study from Safe Kids Worldwide and Nationwide’s Make Safe Happen initiative highlights a concerning trend: despite a decline in pool drownings, incidents involving open water remain a significant threat to children aged 0-19.
The research reveals that while overall child drownings have dropped by 28 percent over the past 17 years, drownings in open water only decreased by 13 percent. Alarmingly, more children are succumbing to drownings in oceans, lakes, rivers, ponds, and quarries than in swimming pools.
Open water poses unique dangers that contribute to these statistics. Many children learn to swim in controlled environments like pools, leaving them unprepared for the challenges presented by currents, waves, drop-offs, underwater obstructions, changes in water temperature, visibility issues, and undertow. Moreover, parents often maintain heightened vigilance at pools but may relax their supervision near other bodies of water.
Further data from the study indicates that boys account for 80 percent of drowning victims, likely due to a combination of risk-taking behavior and societal expectations that lead parents to monitor their daughters more closely. Additionally, disparities in access to swimming lessons are evident, particularly among African American and Native American children, as noted by Morag Mackay, a research director at Safe Kids Worldwide. She emphasized the need for society to enhance opportunities for swimming education.
The study also revealed that lakes are the most perilous open-water environments, accounting for 38 percent of drownings in 2016. Rivers followed at 23 percent, and ponds at 20 percent, while oceans were responsible for just 4 percent. Notably, adolescents aged 15-19 were the most vulnerable, comprising nearly half of open-water drowning victims, likely due to increased risk-taking and a lack of adult supervision.
In 2016, approximately 1,000 children lost their lives to drowning, with another 7,000 requiring emergency medical attention following water-related incidents. Open water was implicated in around 41 percent of these accidents, while swimming pools accounted for nearly 39 percent. Bathtubs and other water sources made up the remaining 20 percent.
Safety Precautions for Open Water Activities
To enhance safety while enjoying open water activities, parents should focus on improving their children’s swimming abilities across different environments and implement the following precautions:
- Remain focused while supervising younger children. Designating multiple adults as water watchers can help maintain vigilance without causing fatigue.
- Ensure inexperienced swimmers remain within arm’s reach of an adult, while experienced swimmers should always have a buddy to swim with.
- Familiarize yourself with basic water rescue techniques and CPR.
- Check weather conditions prior to swimming or boating outings and be aware of the hazards associated with cold water.
- Opt for swimming in designated areas with lifeguards present, and consult lifeguards about specific risks in the vicinity.
- Require children to wear well-fitting life jackets when boating; less proficient swimmers should also wear them while engaging in water activities.
For additional safety tips and insights, refer to the full report on Safe Kids Worldwide. This is a vital resource for families seeking to mitigate drowning risks. You can also explore information on fertility-boosting options in our other blog posts, like those found on Make a Mom. For more comprehensive resources on pregnancy and home insemination, check out Science Daily. If you’re interested in alternative therapies, Intracervical Insemination is a trusted authority on the subject.
In summary, while pool drownings are decreasing, open water remains a significant threat to children. Awareness and education about the unique dangers of various water environments are crucial for ensuring children’s safety during summer activities.