Drowning Statistics And Risk Factors In New York State

Drowning Statistics And Risk Factors

Jed Dietrich, Esq. is a Dedicated and Highly Experienced Personal Injury Attorney in Buffalo, New York Who Represents People That Nearly-Drowned or Drowned Because of Someone Else’s Negligence.

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According to the World Health Organization (WHO), drowning is the third-ranked leading cause of unintentional injury death in the world, resulting in over 320,000 deaths per year. With so many drowning-related deaths occurring each year, it is important to know who is most at risk of drowning and how to address drowning risk factors to prevent injuries and deaths in the future. This page is dedicated to informing members of the Western New York community about the risk factors associated with drowning so that they can use this information to keep themselves and their friends and family safe.

The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has seen firsthand the devastating impact that a near-drowning accident or drowning accident can have on the accident victim and their family. Any drowning accident is tragic, but they can be even more so when the accident could have easily been prevented. If you nearly drowned, or someone you love drowned, because of someone else’s negligence, contact the aggressive, tenacious and hardworking team of Buffalo, New York drowning accident attorneys at the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. today for your free case consultation. Jed Dietrich, Esq. is dedicated to securing maximum compensation for people who were injured as a result of someone else’s conduct. Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. today so that our team can investigate your claim and pursue the compensation that you deserve. Contact us today at 716-839-3939.

Drowning: A Look At The Numbers

Drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional injury deaths worldwide, with an estimated 320,000 drowning deaths occurring each year throughout the world. As such, drowning accounts for 7% of all injury-related deaths. Although anyone can be at risk of drowning, certain groups of people face a greater risk according to statistics.

The following categories of people are regarded as facing a greater risk of drowning accidents:

1. Children: In the United States, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death for children between the ages of 1 and 14 years old. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that for every child that dies by drowning, another five children sustain nonfatal submersion injuries requiring emergency medical care.
2. Males: A male is over two times more likely than a female to suffer a drowning accident. The CDC reports that nearly 80% of fatal drowning accident victims are male. The higher frequency of drowning accidents in males is often attributed to a male’s increased tendency to engage in risk-taking behaviors such as swimming alone, swimming in the dark, cliff diving and consuming alcohol while swimming or boating.
3. Minorities: Studies suggest that factors such as access to swimming pools, socioeconomic barriers to participation in competitive swimming and lack of ability to swim or desire to learn how to swim may contribute to racial disparities in drowning accident rates. The CDC reports that African American children aged 5 to 19 are 5.5 times more likely than Caucasian children to drown in swimming pools.

A mishap in the water can result in a tragic death or life-altering injuries. In cases where a drowning victim does manage to survive, the risk of severe, permanent brain damage is very high because the brain is deprived of oxygen. This brain damage can result in life-altering disabilities such as short-term and long-term memory loss, learning disabilities and cognitive, behavioral or personality changes. In some instances, damage to the brain tissue may be so severe that a drowning victim could be left in a permanent vegetative state.

If you, or your loved one, suffered a drowning or near-drowning injury as a result of someone else’s negligence, you want a top rated drowning accident injury lawyer to zealously represent your interests and pursue the compensation that you deserve. Contact Jed Dietrich, Esq., a member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and his team of highly experienced Buffalo, New York drowning accident lawyers today at 716-839-3939. We are available 24 hours per day and 7 days per week to discuss your claim.

Factors That Influence Drowning Risk

For many, water is a source of fun and relaxation in the hot summer months. Unfortunately, water is not a risk-free source of entertainment. Even a skilled swimmer faces the risk of drowning when combined with the wrong circumstances.

The CDC identified various risk factors that influence a person’s risk of drowning. By being aware of these factors and working to address them, we as a community can help to prevent drowning accidents in the future. These risk factors include:

1. Inability to Swim: One of the primary risk factors associated with drowning is that people overestimate their swimming ability or simply do not know how to swim. It is never too late to learn how to swim, and learning these skills may one day save your life or the life of a loved one. Starting children with swimming lessons at a young age can help them establish comfort with water and confidence with their ability to swim in the event of an emergency.
2. Inadequate Supervision: Unlike in the movies, where someone at risk of drowning is able to make loud noises and splashes to draw the attention of a rescuer, drownings in the real world are commonly quick and quiet. It only takes about 20 seconds for a child to drown and 60 seconds for an adult to drown. If a person hits their head on a pool wall and loses consciousness or has a seizure in the water, and there is no one keeping watch, the consequences can be dire. To prevent tragic losses from drowning, it is important to never swim alone and to always supervise children and other swimmers.
3. Lack of, or Defective, Pool Gates: Often, tragic drowning accidents occur when no one is around and a young child gains access to a pool. Falling into the water and being unable to swim or pull themselves out can lead to devastating injuries or death for small children. Pools should be surrounded by self-closing, self-latching and securely locked gates to prevent young children and other passersby from gaining access to an unattended pool.
4. Alcohol Consumption: Alcohol is detected in the blood of approximately 30 to 70% of people who drowned. A person with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.10 is ten times more likely to die while participating in recreational aquatic activities than is someone who has not been drinking. Alcohol has an adverse impact on a person’s balance, coordination, motor skills and sense of judgment, which can make swimming difficult or impossible for even experienced swimmers. Avoiding alcohol usage in and around the water can optimize safety and save lives.
5. Not Wearing Life Jackets: In 2019, the U.S. Coast Guard reported a total of 4,168 boating accidents, which resulted in 2,559 injuries and 613 deaths. Of those who died in a boating accident, 79% drowned and 86% of those who drowned were not wearing a life jacket at the time of their death. If you are planning a boating trip with your family or friends, make sure there are enough life jackets on board. In general, there should be one USCG approved life jacket per person on board.

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Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at 716-839-3939 so that our aggressive, tenacious and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Buffalo, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!

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