Drowning: Leading Cause of Death in Young Children [Useful Tips to Prevent Them From Happening]

Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages one to four, according to the CDC . Their report excludes kids with birth defects. Parents should be mindful because many children who drown accidentally slip unnoticed into pools. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) noted that adult's lack of supervision causes 56 percent of child drownings. 

The CPSC said that the reports show that, on average, 379 deaths by water accident among children are linked to pools or spas every year. The kids in the data are aged 15 and below. In 2017, the number of deaths reached 395. The agency also said that an equivalent of 18 percent of kids per day ends up in emergency rooms due to drowning injuries. Numerically, about 6,700 kids enter the ER a year. 

(Photo: unsplash/Terry Jaskiw)

Robert Adler, CPSC acting chairman, said that their latest reports confirmed that most drowning of children happen at home during the summertime. He urges everyone to take critical safety measures, especially now that most families are spending time at home. He noted that it might help reverse the upward trend. 

Drowning is also the third leading cause of death among those under the age of 20. The American Academy of Pediatrics published a policy statement. It stated that in 2017, nearly 1,000 young people succumbed to drowning. 

The paper indicated that a lack of water access barriers and lack of supervision are the two major causes of young people drowning. It also stated that most of the accidents occur in hot tubs and spas, swimming pools, bathtubs, and natural water bodies. 

The AAP, citing CPSC data, said that some 69 percent of water accidents of children aged below five happened in situations when the kids should not be inside or near water. 

Young people with conditions such as autism, epilepsy, or cardiac arrhythmia have a high risk of not surviving water accidents. 

Even though drowning has been a major cause of death in children, the rates have decreased by over half in the last three decades. Back in 1985, unintentional drownings caused 2.68 out of one hundred thousand to die. The AAP said that in 2017, that number decreased to 1.11 because safety around water recreation areas has improved. 

(Photo: unsplash/Mariano Nocetti)

How to avoid drowning incidents 

As a parent, you would want for your kids to be safe at all costs. Here are some tips on how to keep your kids safe around water. 

Close supervision

Never leave your children alone near water, even for a short time. A CPSC study found that most young kids who drowned were unsupervised by their parents for a minute or less. 

Let them take swim lessons

The AAP recommends that parents let babies one-year-old and upstart taking swim lessons. A study found that swim lessons could reduce the risk of drowning in children by 88 percent. 

Add fencing to the pool area

Encircle home pools with four-feet fences on all sides. The fence should separate the pool area from the other parts of the yard. 

Know how to do CPR

It will help you respond quickly to any accidents inside or near water. 

Other parenting-related articles: 

Viral Video: Baby Tossed into a Swimming Pool by an Instructor

Summer Babies: Fun Facts Every Mom Should Know

Value of Money: 7 Essential Lessons to Teach Children