Swimming pools often provide the backdrop of the best summer memories, especially for kids! But like most enjoyable activities and adventures, there’s a risk involved. When it comes to swimming, the greatest risk is that of drowning. In fact, the World Health Organization reports that drowning is the most significant cause of unintentional death; 372,000 deaths result from drowning across the globe each year. In the US, the CDC reports that on average, 3,536 people die each year from drowning; that’s approximately 10 drowning deaths each day. In addition to deaths from drownings, approximately 4,900 people suffer from non-fatal pool-related injuries each year, and most of them are due to non-fatal drownings.
General Demographic Most At-Risk for Drowning
As significant as drowning is among the entire population, the risks are extremely high for children between the ages of 1 and 4. In fact, those in that age group account for 76% of drowning deaths in the US each year, and 67% of drowning deaths involve children younger than age 3.
Now for some added stats that relate to the places that pose the greatest drowning risks for children. For those under age 15, 75% of drowning deaths occur at a private residential pool, as opposed to a public pool. Only 17% of them occur in an above-ground pool, and 9% occur in portable pools (also called “kiddie” pools).
Additional Risk Factors for Drowning
In addition to age, another heightened characteristic that puts some people at greater risk for drowning is if a person has a seizure disorder. For people of any age with epilepsy, drowning is the leading cause of injury and death. Not surprisingly, those without strong swim skills also have increased risks. Children who receive swimming instruction are far less likely to suffer swimming-related injuries or drown.
There are ways you can prevent drowning in your pool. The first and most important is to have a safety fence installed. This barrier should be four-sided and include a locked gate, preventing children from entering the pool area without supervision. And that supervision is also a biggie. In 77% of home drowning accidents, a child was missing for only a short time — less than 5 minutes — and 70% of them were not expected to be in the pool during that time.
Another major factor in many drownings is that there’s alcohol involved. Alcohol plays a part in a whopping 70% of all injuries and deaths related to some water recreation in some form.
Unfortunately, there’s no way to enjoy the water and completely eliminate all risks of drowning. But by prohibiting the use of alcohol in or near your pool, installing a safety fence, and being vigilant about supervising children who use your pool, you can significantly reduce the risks of drowning in your swimming pool.
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Lyon Financial
Since 1979 Lyon Financial has made the backyard resort dream come true for over 400,000 families across the U.S. Through our solid relationships with more than 3,000 pool contractors and our continued commitment to putting our clients first, we have built a reputation as the first choice in providing pool financing solutions. For more information, visit lyonfinancial.net or call (877) 754-5966 today.
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