Go into the water. Go underwater. Drown. Most people think that it’s that simple. However, it is not. Here is some interesting drowning data that you might not have ever known.
Here Are the Little Known Drowning Data Facts
1. ) Your kids are more likely to drown in your backyard pool than the rough, blue ocean. That is true for even a clear lake or even a clear, mountain stream. Fresh water and salt water kill you differently.
Most people die in fresh water. In fact, about 90%. Most people swim and die in swimming pools. That is one big reason.
Secondly, freshwater kills you faster than salt water. When you inhale freshwater, it seeps into your blood stream or dilutes your plasma. This causes your red blood cells to burst, leading to massive organ failure.
Salt water has the opposite effect. It thickens your blood. Your lungs quickly fill up with plasma, eventually drowning you in your own liquids.
In the end, salt water will stop your heart in about 8-10 minutes. Fresh water will do the same thing in 2-3 minutes.
2.) In the United States, accidental drowning affects some very specific demographics. Nearly 80% of drowning victims are male. Not because women are necessarily better swimmers, but because men drink more and are more likely to engage in risky behavior around the water.
It is even worst for minorities. African-American children between the ages of 5 and 14 die nearly three times more often than white American children. The most pronounced stat is that in children between the ages of 11 and 12 – Black children are 10 times more likely to drown than White children of the same age. It is important to note that this is NOT due to any physical or mental difference between Black and White children. Black children are more likely to have been raised in an urban setting where they encounter pools less often. They are less likely to learn how to swim.
3.) Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury/death in children. You wouldn’t think that water is so dangerous, but it is extremely so. Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury/death throughout the world! It accounts for 7% of all injury related deaths. There are roughly 320,000 drowning death per year according to the World Health Organization. That means almost a 1,000 people per day die from drowning.
In the U.S., it is the second leading cause of accidental death in children under 14. That is just behind traffic accidents. In China, it is the leading cause of accidental death. So, swim safe kids!
4.) Drowning was once considered a classy form of execution. This form of execution was considered “peaceful”. In Europe during the Middle Ages, the practice was often reserved for women and gentlemen who deserved a nobler and more gentle death.
Women and men accused of witchcraft would be bound and thrown into water. It was believed that witches would bob to the
surface. While the women and men that sank would often be pulled out, they often had drowned already. This practice stopped at the end of the 17th century. I wonder how many survived this practice?!
5.) It is possible to drown without even being in water! Drowning is terrifying enough, but it is even possible to drown in the middle of the desert. Well, you would have to first take a swim in an oasis or something.
“Dry” and “Secondary” drowning is what this problem is called. It happens long after you leave the water. Sometimes, even hours later.
In dry drowning, breathing in water causes your vocal cords to spasm, closing up your throat and blocking your airways. With secondary drowning, water is inhaled into the lungs. The water irritates the lungs which causes them to fill with fluids… this is called pulmonary edema… this makes it difficult to breathe.
Nearly 4,000 people per year worldwide die from dry and secondary drowning. Doctors believe that as little as 2 millimeters of water per kilogram of bodyweight can cause dry and secondary drowning. For those of you who don’t know, that is a very small amount of water.
Children are much more likely to die from this type of drowning than adults. One, because of their size. And, two, they are more likely to “rough house” and consume more water.
6.) Drowning doesn’t look anything like it does on the television. There usually is not any screaming, thrashing around, arms and water flying everywhere. Drowning is deceptively quiet.
It often looks like a person floating upright in the water with their arms out laterally as they try to keep their heads above water. Or, a person trying to swim, but getting nowhere. The person might be trying to roll onto their back in order to breathe. And, there is no screaming as drowning involves one’s mouth being completely underwater. You can’t scream if you can’t breathe!
If you see someone exhibiting these signs, yell and ask them if they are OK. If they don’t answer, you best be moving fast as the person may have only seconds to live.
Give Life Saver Survivor Swim School an Opportunity to Teach Your Child to Swim
I had an interesting time researching and writing about this odd drowning data, but my real interest is teaching young children how to float, swim, and enjoy the water. If your child needs help with these skills, I hope that you’ll give me and my school, Life Saver Survivor Swim School, the opportunity to teach them. If you would like to discuss this with me, give me a call at my school. My name is Bonnie and my school’s phone number is (832) 366-3008. Or, if you have already decided and you would like to enroll them online, please go here.