Drowning claims nearly 4,000 lives annually in U.S. Published Aug. 27, 2009 By Steve Serrette 72nd Air Base Wing Safety Office TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- If you do not think of drowning as a major health problem, you probably do not work in an emergency room. Drowning is the third most common cause of accidental death in the United States, causing almost 8,000 deaths each year. Worldwide about 150,000 people drown annually. Statistical reporting on near-drowning is unreliable, but experts have estimated that there may be 600 near-drowning incidents for every reported drowning death. One reason near-drownings are difficult to count is that the term is not easy to define exactly. The standard medical definition of near-drowning is survival, at least temporarily, after suffocation by submersion in water or other liquid. Authorities differ on whether to include loss of consciousness as a criterion. Others draw a distinction between "wet near-drowning," in which fluid is aspirated into the lungs, and "dry near-drowning." Recreational swimming, use of watercrafts, scuba diving and snorkeling are just some of the aquatic pastimes we can enjoy year-round. This enjoyment, however, can quickly turn to tragedy. Drownings and other water-related tragedies have a lifetime effect on everyone involved, including family, friends and the community. According to the World Health Organization, drowning is defined as "the process of experiencing respiratory impairment from submersion/immersion in liquid." Drowning outcomes should be classified as resulting in death, morbidity (sustaining an injury) and no morbidity. Most drownings occur within a short distance of safety and can be prevented. Who is likely to drown, when and where? In 2002, more than 400,000 people died from drowning worldwide. In the U.S., drowning claims nearly 3,600 lives annually. For children, it is the second leading cause of accidental death of school-age children and the No. 1 cause for preschoolers. Two-thirds of drownings happen in the summer months during the 101 Critical Days of Summer: 40 percent occur on Saturday and Sunday. Some 90 percent occur in fresh water, even in states with large coastal regions. More than half of these cases occur in home swimming pools. One-quarter to one-third of drowning victims have swimming lessons. Although drowning equally affects both sexes, males have a rate three times higher than females because of increased reckless behavior and use of alcohol. Children less than one year of age tend to drown in bathtubs and buckets because they are not coordinated enough to get out by themselves when they fall in. Older children ages 1 to 4 drown in swimming pools, while those ages 5 to 14 tend to drown in lakes, ponds, rivers and oceans. Adolescents and adults tend to drown because of impaired swimming ability from alcohol or illicit drug use. Who is at Risk? There are two times in your life when you are at the greatest risk of drowning. The first is when you are five years old or younger. The classic scenario is the child left unattended or poorly supervised near a swimming pool or bathtub. The second peak is when you are between 15 and 25 years old. Overwhelmingly males, victims in this category tend to drown while enjoying themselves at rivers, lakes, and beaches. Alcohol or illegal drugs are often involved. More than 50% of adult drowning deaths are believed to be alcohol-related. If you were to rank, by importance, the risk factors that contribute to drowning and near-drowning, the list would look like this: Inability to swim or overestimation of swimming capabilities Risk-taking behavior, including the use of alcohol and illicit drugs Inadequate adult supervision of children Trauma (such as a physical injury), seizures, stroke, heart attack or heart arrhythmia "Shallow water blackout" in which swimmers hyperventilate in order to swim longer under water. This can lead to a lack of oxygen in the brain and loss of consciousness. Hypothermia, or lowered body temperature. This can lead to heart arrhythmia and rapid exhaustion. More Drowning Facts for Children The majority of drowning deaths occur in the family pool. The most common drowning victim is a child four years of age or younger. These tragedies often occur while one or both parents are home and there is a brief lapse in supervision. Drowning is called the 'Silent Death' because there is often no cry for help and very little sound from splashing. Drowning is a leading cause of unintentional death for young children. Preventable Mistakes Never leave a child alone near any body of water in which a child's nose and mouth can be submerged. Never use floaties or other inflatable toys as life jackets or substitutes for adult supervision. Never leave toys in or around the pool/spa. Remove items that could be used for climbing (tables, chairs, planters) away from fences. Never consider children to be 'drown-proof' despite swimming skills, previous swimming lessons or experience. Be Prepared Look in the pool area first if a child is missing Designate an adult to supervise children around any body of water, especially at social gatherings Require parents, grandparents and care providers to know CPR, rescue techniques and how to call 911 Post the 911 emergency number, your home phone number and home address by every telephone. Consider age-appropriate swimming lessons by a qualified instructor Know that drownings are preventable. Pool Security Doors and windows should be alarmed to alert family members when opened. Secure and lock all doors, windows and gates leading to the pool/spa area when not in use. Power operated pool safety covers are the safest and easiest to use. Solar/floating pool covers are not safety covers and do not provide adequate protection. Children can slip underneath and become trapped out of sight. A poolside phone is an essential part of a safe pool environment that allows access to 911 and avoids leaving a child unattended to answer a phone call. Install a life saving ring, shepherd's hook and CPR instructions should be mounted by the pool. Rescue equipment should be in good repair. A non-climbable five-foot fence that separates the pool/spa from the residence. Openings should be no more than four inches; wide so children cannot squeeze through the spaces. Use self-closing, self latching five-foot fence gates and side gates leading to the pool/spa area, with latches above a child's reach (54" high). The gate should open away from the pool. Never prop gates open. During these high-profile 101 Critical Days of Summer, we want each member of our Air Force family and their family members to think before they act. Using proper Risk Assessment can help avoid a tragic downturn of events due to drowning.