15 May Drowning Deaths Spike, Especially Among Children and Minorities

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:

Dr. Clemens

Dr. Tessa Clemens, PhDH
Health scientist in the Division of Injury Prevention
CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?

Response: Data showed an increase in drowning deaths after years of decline and drowning is the leading cause of death among children ages 1-4. We know that swimming lessons reduce the risk of drowning, but not everyone has the same access to swimming lessons. In this study, we described which groups saw the greatest increases in drowning and analyzed swimming skills and swimming lesson participation data.

MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings? Who is more prone to drowning death?

Response:  Our study found that drowning death rates were significantly higher in 2020, 2021, and 2022 compared to 2019.

Rates were highest each year among children 1-4 years, with significant increases in most age groups. By race/ethnicity, the highest drowning rates were among non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native and non-Hispanic Black persons.

Over half (55%) of U.S. adults reported never taking a swimming lesson and swimming lesson participation differed by age, sex, and race/ethnicity.

• More than 1 in 3 Black adults (37%) reported not knowing how to swim compared to 15% of all adults.
• About 2 in 3 Black adults (63%) reported never taking a swimming lesson
• About 3 in 4 Hispanic adults (72%) reported never taking a swimming lesson

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

• Drowning is preventable.
• Basic swimming and water safety skills training is a proven, effective way to prevent drowning.
• Making swimming lessons available and affordable can reduce the risk of drowning and save lives.
• Over 4,500 people drowned each year in the United States from 2020–2022. This is about 500 more drowning deaths each year compared to 2019.
• Groups already at higher risk saw the greatest increases in deaths, including young children and older adults of all races and ethnicities, and Black people of all ages.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a results of this study?

Response:  Future research is needed on the circumstances of drowning that could help us understand differences in drowning risk among groups with the highest rates of drowning.

Complex social and structural barriers to accessing basic swimming and water safety skills training exist. Better understanding ways to increase access to swimming lessons and other drowning prevention strategies requires future analysis.

MedicalResearch.com: Is there anything else you would like to add? Any disclosures?

Everyone can take steps to help prevent drowning:

• Learn basic swimming and water safety skills. Formal swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning. Basic swimming and water safety skills training is hands-on training that takes place in the water.
• Adults should closely supervise children, even those who have had swimming lessons, in or near water, including pools, buckets of water, and bathtubs.
• Build fences that fully enclose pools. Construct and use four-sided fences that are at least four feet in height, have self-closing and self-latching gates, and fully enclose the pool and separate it from the house.
• Learn CPR. Your CPR skills could save someone’s life in the time it takes for paramedics to arrive.
• Wear a life jacket. Life jackets reduce the risk of drowning while boating for people of all ages and swimming abilities. Do not rely on air-filled or foam toys, as these are not safety devices.
• Do not drink alcohol before or during swimming, boating, or other water activities.

Citation:  Clemens T, Moreland B, Mack KA, Thomas K, Bergen G, Lee R. Vital Signs: Drowning Death Rates, Self-Reported Swimming Skill, Swimming Lesson Participation, and Recreational Water Exposure — United States, 2019–2023. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. ePub: 14 May 2024. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7320e1.

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Last Updated on May 15, 2024 by Marie Benz MD FAAD