The Most Current Drowning Statistics

As a property manager, it is your not always fun, but essential responsibility to evaluate onsite amenities for risk and to take action to mitigate that risk where able. One such example of an amenity that can bring both joy and additional risk: the pool. When not properly supervised or maintained, a pool can invite trouble and worse: drowning, injury, and other accidents. Here, we call out recent statistics on drowning and pool safety issues as well as suggestions for helping to expedite assistance should a poolside emergency occur.  

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The Consumer Product Safety Commission reported the most recent state of pool hazards in its study, Pool or Spa Submersion: Estimated Nonfatal Drowning Injuries and Reported Drownings, 2019 Report.

Among the findings:

• On average, there were an estimated 6,600 pool- or spa-related, hospital emergency department (ED)-treated, nonfatal drowning injuries each year for 2016 through 2018
• 363 pool- or spa-related drownings were reported per year for 2014 through 2016, involving children younger than 15 years of age.
• An annual average of 73 percent of the ED-treated nonfatal drowning injuries from 2016 through 2018 — and 74 percent of the reported drownings from 2014 through 2016 — involved children younger than 5 years of age.
• Male children are more frequently treated for pool- or spa-related nonfatal drowning injuries than female children. This is true of all injured children younger than 15 and the subset of children younger than 5 years of age. 

Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death in the world, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). They report 372,000 drowning deaths annually. 

The organization reports that, in the United States of America, 45 percent of drowning deaths are among the most economically active segment of the population. Coastal drowning in the U.S. accounts for $273 million in annual direct and indirect costs. 

The WHO issued a global report on drowning that shows age being one of the major risk factors. As expected, the relationship is often associated with a lapse in supervision. 

Globally, the highest drowning rates are among children 1–4 years, followed by children 5–9 years. In the WHO Western Pacific Region, children aged 5–14 years die more frequently from drowning than any other cause. 

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) report that in the United States, on average, 3,536 people died from drowning annually from 2005 to 2014. That equates to 10 deaths per day. Aside from that, the organization reports that there are thousands of others who experience swimming pool-related injuries every year. 

Read our blog post on why you need a pool phone (regardless of state laws). 

According to the CDC, drowning is the number one cause of unintentional deaths for children between the ages of 1 and 4. The organization also lists the major reasons for a person’s chance of drowning: 

• No swimming lessons or swimming skills.
• No fencing or protective barrier around the pool during off hours.
• Lack of supervision
• Alcohol use
• Seizure disorder

These stats really help illustrate the importance of why you cannot afford to take any chances when it comes to your pool’s safety. We never think we or someone we know will drown, but numbers show that it occurs a lot more often than we think, and knowing how to swim doesn’t necessarily prevent someone from drowning.

Download our free guide: Pool Maintenance and Safety >> 

The importance of a Kings III emergency pool phone

Place an emergency phone system by your pool and show your tenants that their welfare and safety are a high priority. Required by law in many states (check your state’s laws here), pool phones can be used by tenants to report drownings and accidents as well as pool and area maintenance issues and hazards. An early report like this could save you thousands of dollars in maintenance repairs and even prevent injuries and save lives.

Is a pool phone’s use seasonal? Not at all. Property managers nationwide continue to place significant priority on life safety, recognizing emergency pool phones can function as an essential life-saving tool year-round, whether required by law or not. Proactive managers look for ways to decrease their risk and liability, and they see value in onsite emergency help phones, at poolside or otherwise. Emergency phones provide a reliable means for tenants and guests to summon help in a time of need. If monitored properly, use of these phones serve as a valuable risk mitigation tool with call recording for event verification and incident report purposes. Kings III operators will also keep you in the loop of what’s transpiring on your property – an added benefit not available through standard emergency monitoring or direct to 911.  

Just because you are not required by law to have an emergency pool phone onsite doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t have one. No emergency phone near the pool leaves both your residents and your property vulnerable to many life safety issues, especially when you consider the limitations associated with cell phones and 911 call centers. See our blog post: Why You Need A Pool Phone Regardless of State Laws.

With a Kings III emergency pool phone, if an accident happens at your pool, tenants can escalate the emergency process and get the help they need with just one push of a button – and in upwards of 175 languages. No unlocking smartphones (seconds count!) and no stumbling to ensure you’re relaying the correct address to emergency personnel. 

If tenants need immediate medical attention, Kings III dispatch center operators can help. Our operators are Advanced Emergency Medical Dispatch (AEMD) certified, meaning  they can provide you with step-by-step pre-arrival medical instructions (including CPR) while emergency services are in transit.

Read about the benefits of having a pool phone specifically in winter or off-season.

Interested in evaluating the need for a pool phone or other emergency phone for your property?  Contact us!