Citation

Denny SA, Quan L, Gilchrist J, McCallin T, Shenoi R, Yusuf S, Weiss J, Hoffman B. Pediatrics 2021; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, American Academy of Pediatrics)

DOI

10.1542/peds.2021-052227

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death in US children 1 through 4 years of age and, as of 2018, has surpassed birth defects as the most common cause of death among this age group. Drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among US children and adolescents 5 through 19 years of age.1 In 2018, almost 900 US children and youth under 20 years died of drowning and more than 7200 were seen at a hospital emergency department (ED) for a drowning event, with 35% of those children either hospitalized or transferred for further care.1 Rates of drowning death vary with age, sex, and race; those at greatest risk are toddlers and male adolescents. Underlying medical conditions, such as seizures and autism, also increase risk. Fortunately, childhood unintentional drowning fatality rates have decreased steadily from 2.68 per 100 000 in 1985 to 1.09 per 100 000 in 2018. Most victims of nonfatal drowning do well, but severe long-term neurologic deficits are seen with extended submersion times, prolonged resuscitation efforts, and lack of early bystander-initiated cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).2-4

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has revised this technical report because of new information and research regarding (1) populations at increased risk; (2) racial and sociodemographic disparities in drowning rates; (3) water competency (water safety knowledge and attitudes, basic swim skills, and response to a swimmer in trouble)5,6; (4) the need for close, constant, attentive, and capable adult supervision when children are in and around water as well as life jacket use among children and adults; (5) the importance of physical barriers to prevent access to water when children are not expected to be around water; and (6) the Drowning Chain of Survival and importance of bystander CPR...

Language: en