Serious Personal Injury Lawyers Blog

In 2003, there were 3,306 unintentional fatal drownings in the United States, averaging nine people per day. This figure does not include drownings in boating-related incidents. (CDC 2005) In 2003, males accounted for 80% of fatal drownings in the United States (CDC 2005). In 2003, 782 children ages 0 to 14 years died from drowning (CDC 2005) Drowning is the second-leading cause of injury-related death among children under the age of 15. 19% of drowning deaths involving children occur in public pools with certified lifeguards present. A swimming pool is 14 times more likely than a motor vehicle to be involved in the death of a child age 4 and under. An estimated 5,000 children ages 14 and under are hospitalized due to unintentional drowning-related incidents each year; 15% die in the hospital and as many as 20 percent suffer severe, permanent neurological disability. Of all preschoolers who drown, 70% are in the care of one or both parents at the time of the drowning and 75% are missing from sight for five minutes or less. Studies showed that on average, it took one minute and 14 seconds for lifeguards to spot the manikin. Lifeguards noted the presence of the manikin on only 46 occasions, or in 9% of the tests within 10 seconds, and in 30 seconds or less in 43% of the tests. In 41% of the tests it took over one minute; it took more than three minutes in 14% of the tests.