Even though cooler weather is beginning to dominate a good part of the continental United States, people remain at risk for drowning. This includes families who will take off to warmer climates for vacations and people who are merely going about their daily lives. With this in mind, there are some important facts and stats to bear in mind about drowning accidents, injuries, and deaths in the United States.
Number of People Who Die by Drowning Annually in the U.S.A.
Nearly 3,900 people die as the result of unintentional drowning in the United States each year. Drowning deaths are more likely to occur on weekends than on weekdays. The drowning death rate on weekends is nearly 50 percent higher than the fatal drowning rate experienced on weekdays.
Where Drowning Deaths Occur
An analysis of drowning deaths in the United States compiled by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention illustrates where more drowning deaths occur in the country each year. The location of drowning deaths breaks down as follows:
- Natural water bodies – 47 percent of all U.S. drowning deaths
- Swimming pools – 16 percent of all U.S. drowning deaths
- Bathtubs – 10 percent of all U.S. drowning deaths
- Other locations/unspecified locations – 27 percent of all U.S. drowning deaths
Of swimming pool accidents, these types of drowning incidents occur in:
- Private residence swimming pools
- Apartment complex pools
- Pools in gated communities
- Public pools
The vast majority of fatal drowning accidents that occur in natural water bodies involve some type of boating accident. Most of these drowning deaths involve victims who are not wearing lifejackets at the time of the incident that gave rise to their deaths.
Occurrence of Drowning Deaths in the United States by Age Cohort
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has compiled comprehensive data in regard to the rate of drowning deaths in the country by specific age cohorts. This study reveals the following data, identifying the most frequent to the least frequent drowning death rate by age:
- Most frequent rate of drowning death – one to four year old children (in fact, the death rate among this age cohort is almost twice that of the nearest age cohort)
- Second most frequent drowning death rate – 85 and older
- Third most frequent drowning death rate – under one year old
- Fourth most frequent drowning death rate – 20 to 84
- Least frequent drowning death rate – five to 19
When it comes to fatal drowning accidents involving children, the most frequently occurring primary of contributory cause is the lack of proper adult supervision. The stark reality is that every across the United States children drown because adults are not paying proper attention to these youngsters while they are in the water. Adults assigned to supervise children while in a pool or other body of water must keep their full attention trained on these youngsters at all times. Even looking away for a matter of seconds can spell catastrophe in some instances.
Legal Rights after a Drowning Accident
Attorney Jimmy Doan is recognized nationally as a leading authority on drowning accidents. Jimmy regularly is called upon to consult with other law firms in the United States to consult on complicated drowning accident cases.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a drowning accident that occurred because of someone else’s negligence, Jimmy Doan and his legal team are here for you. You can connect with The Doan Law Office any time of the day or night by calling us at (800) 349-0000. We keep our drowning accident lawyer hotline staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year, including all major holidays.
With 40 offices located across the country, we can schedule an initial consultation with a drowning accident lawyer at a location convenient for you. We can also arrange an initial consultation with a drowning accident attorney at your home or any other location convenient for you. A virtual case evaluation provided by a drowning accident lawyer can be schedule online as well.
There is never a fee for an initial consultation with Jimmy Doan and his legal team. Indeed, The Doan Law Firm never charges an attorney fee unless we win your case for you.
