Swimming Pool Drownings and Near-Drownings among California Preschoolers

• Published in: Public health reports (1974) Vol. 112; no. 1; pp. 73 - 77
• Main Authors: Arthur A. Ellis, Trent, Roger B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC U.S. Public Health Service 01.01.1997; Association of Schools of Public Health; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Age Distribution; Age groups; Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Biological and medical sciences; California - epidemiology; Child health services; Child, Preschool; Children; Children & youth; Death Certificates; Drowning; Drowning - economics; Drowning - epidemiology; Drownings; Emergency and intensive care: injuries, diseases due to physical agents. Diving. Drowning. Disaster medicine; Female; Hospital Charges; Hospitalization; Hospitalization - economics; Hospitalization - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Infant; Intensive care medicine; Male; Medical sciences; Near drowning; Near Drowning - economics; Near Drowning - epidemiology; Physical trauma; Population Surveillance; Public Health; Risk Factors; Scientific Contributions; Swimming accidents & safety; Swimming pools; Youths at risk; California; United States; North America; America; Human; Preschool age; Intensive care; Personal injury; Hospitalization; Drowning; Epidemiology; Incidence; Health economy; Risk factor; Swimming pool; Cost analysis; Child; Public health
• ISSN: 0033-3549; 1468-2877

Objective: To describe a significant but poorly understood public health problem, the authors compiled data on swimming pool drownings and near-drownings requiring hospitalization for California children ages 1 to 4. Methods: Data from death certificates were used to analyze swimming pool drownings, and hospital discharge data were used to analyze near-drownings. Results: Among California preschoolers in 1993, pool immersion incidents were the leading cause of injury death and the eighth leading cause of injuries leading to hospitalization. Rates per 100,000 population were 3.2 for fatalities and 11.2 for nonfatal incidents, with a fatality-to-case ratio of 1:3.5. Total charges for initial hospital stays (excluding physicians' fees) were $5.2 million for 1227 hospital days. Conclusions: Swimming pools remain a serious hazard for young children. Primary prevention continues to be an important public health goal. Public health officials should support the adoption of laws designed to protect children from drowing and near-drownings.