Prevention of Drowning in Infants, Children, and Adolescents
ABSTRACT. Drowning is a leading cause of injuryrelated
death in children. In 2000, more than 1400 US
children younger than 20 years drowned. Most (91%) of
these deaths were unintentional and were not related to
boating. For each drowning death, it is estimated that at
least 1 to 4 children suffer a serious nonfatal submersion
event, many of which leave children with permanent
disabilities. Environmental strategies, such as installation
of 4-sided fences around swimming pools, and behavioral
strategies, such as increased supervision of children
while around water, are needed to prevent these
tragedies.