Kentucky experiences more drownings than US average. These tips could keep you safe
Pools are open for the summer and people are flocking to lakes and swimming holes to beat the heat. It’s also the time of year when risk factors multiply for child drownings.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it’s a leading cause of death for children across the country, especially children ages 4 and younger.
Here’s a look at what the data tell us about child drowning deaths in Kentucky, along with some strategies for keeping children safe this summer.
Child drowning incidents in Kentucky
As of 2020, CDC figures show Kentucky has had a higher-than-average rate of drownings compared to the national average.
Between 2016 and 2020, Kentucky’s rate stood at 1.48 drowning deaths per 100,000 people. That’s higher than the national rate of 1.28 per 100,000.
It’s unclear which factor or combination of factors have led to Kentucky’s heightened rate of drownings.
There are several factors associated with increased drowning risk that breakdown along economic and social lines. Kentucky has numerous bodies of water, including lakes, rivers and streams, which is where children ages 5 and older are most likely to drown.
Across the commonwealth, more than 20% of children live in poverty, and living in a low-income household puts children at increased risk of drowning.
According to the American Red Cross, 79% of children living in households with incomes less than $50,000 have little to no swimming skills. In 2021, the median household income in Kentucky was $55,454, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures.
Drowning risk also breakdowns along racial lines. According to the Red Cross, in the U.S. 64% of Black children and 45% of Hispanic/Latino children have few to no swimming skills. For comparison, 40% of white children have few to no swimming skills, the data show.
Black children are particularly at risk at community swimming pools, where they are nearly 6 times more likely to drown than white children of the same age.
When it comes to child drownings in Kentucky specifically, a 2021 report from the state’s Child Fatality Review Panel found drownings made up 8% of unintentional injury deaths among children ages 17 years old and younger. The number of drownings among children in the commonwealth between 2015 and 2020 ranged between 10 and 13 deaths annually.
In general, children ages 1 to 4 have the highest drowning rates, according to CDC data. Here’s what else CDC data reveal:
Men make up nearly 80% of people who die from drowning. Risk factors include risk-taking behaviors, increased exposure to water and alcohol use.
Certain racial and ethnic groups have higher drowning rates. Black people are 1.5 times more likely to drown, and Indigenous people (those ages 29 and younger) are twice as likely to drown than white people.
People with seizure disorders and other medical conditions are at a higher risk. Other conditions, such as autism and heart conditions, are associated with higher rates of drowning.
There are 4,000 unintentional drownings in the U.S. every year, which amounts to 11 deaths per day.
In addition, there are 8,000 nonfatal drownings per year, an average of 22 nonfatal drownings per day. Nonfatal drownings can cause brain damage, resulting in long-term health problems and costly hospital stays.
What we know about drownings in Lexington and Fayette County
John Bobel, spokesperson for Fayette County’s Emergency Management agency, said drownings are fortunately rare in Lexington and Fayette County.
“To the best of my knowledge, there haven’t been any drowning incidents at city pools in the past 10 years,” Bobel wrote in an email, adding, “That doesn’t account for close calls. No one counts those.”
Bobel did recall one drowning about 10 years ago involving a young child aged 5 or 6. That drowning happened at a neighborhood pool on Lexington’s south side, he said.
Asked about where drownings seem to most frequently occur, the official said, “The most publicized are drownings in lakes and rivers.” He cited a May 26 drowning involving a teenager and another May 25 involving a 23-year-old man.
Few drownings happen “Hollywood style,” with lots of thrashing and noise like you might see in a movie, Bobel added. They are generally silent killers.
“Most often small children get in distress, swallow or inhale water and just fall to the bottom of the structure or body of water. By the time someone realizes they’re missing, they’re beyond recovery,” he said.
Dr. Sarah Denny is a pediatrician working for the country’s second largest pediatric hospital, Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.
Denny reiterated drownings are often “quick and quiet.”
“Drowning happens quickly and quietly, which is why constant, capable adult supervision is critical to the prevention of drowning when children are expected to be around water, and why 4-sided fencing is important to keep children safe when they are not expected to be around water,” Denny told the Herald-Leader in an email Monday.
The doctor also noted the location of drownings varies by age.
“In general, children younger than 1 are most likely to drown in the home — bathtubs, buckets of water, toilets. Preschool aged children are most likely to drown in a pool, and adolescents — open bodies of water,” said Denny, who is also a clinical professor of pediatrics at The Ohio State University School of Medicine.
How to prevent drowning deaths in Kentucky
According to Dr. Denny, people who don’t have children can do several things to help lower the risk of drowning for children in their neighborhood or community.
If they have a pool, for example, they should enclose it with a four-sided fence with a self-closing, self-latching gate. They can also take a CPR class, support life jacket loaner programs and efforts to offer swimming lessons to at-risk communities and follow state laws regarding watercraft.
According to Boebel, his biggest piece of advice is to designate watchers if you’re in a group.
“One or two people should be assigned to watch the children in the water,” Boebel said, adding the watcher shouldn’t be distracted by alcohol or other diversions. Monitoring swimming children should be the person’s only job.
If you plan to visit a community pool this summer with your child, remember lifeguards have specific responsibilities and aren’t “babysitters,” Boebel said.
“An adult should always watch for their child in the water. No exceptions,” he added.
The CDC recommends several strategies to prevent drowning deaths:
Learn and teach your child basic swimming skills. Formal lessons reduce the risk of drowning, but even children who know how to swim need proper supervision while in the water.
Fully fence in swimming pools, make sure a self-closing gate is installed and remove any toys that would attract children.
Supervise children closely while they’re in the water. Designate an adult to watch children when they’re swimming or bathing.
Use life jackets, which reduce the risk of drowning for people of all ages and swimming abilities. This is especially true for children. Do not rely on air-filled or foam toys, since these are not safety devices.
Learn CPR. Many organizations, such as the American Red Cross and American Heart Association offer CPR training courses online and in-person. Your skills could save someone’s life.
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This story was originally published June 13, 2023 at 10:45 AM.