Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury in children. Children 1 to 4 years old are the most vulnerable age group to die of drowning. Minority children are most vulnerable to these types of injuries and fatalities, and their rate of a fatal unintentional drowning injury is significantly higher than that of their white peers The factors that have caused this racial disparity include minority children’s lack of access to swimming pools, lack of availability and promotion of swimming lessons, and lack of participation in water-related recreational activities. This population’s vulnerability increases when exposed to unsupervised bodies of water. For every childhood drowning death there are 5 children who will be hospitalized for submersion injuries. Severe submersion injuries can result in brain injuries that have long-term consequences, including learning difficulties and permanent loss of basic functioning.
Lack of protection, preparation, and prevention increases the risk of drowning. Children...
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