Water Smart® Parents

Most drowning victims among under 5-year-olds are 2- to 4-year-olds.

Two to 4-year-olds are increasingly mobile as they progress through the toddler years. They are inquisitive and take advantage of their ever-expanding range and speed of mobility. They have no awareness of looming aquatic danger. It is up to parents and caregivers to protect them. Toddlers and children under 5 are at risk when they are playing near water – far and away the activity most involved in toddler drownings.

Private backyard pools present the greatest danger at this life stage, accounting for one-third of water-related deaths for young children under 5 years, although beaches and waterfronts on lakes and rivers also contribute.

By far the biggest risk factor for young children is lack of supervision from parents or caregivers. Almost all these young victims were alone when they became immersed in water. The lapse in attention may have been just a few moments, but it was fatal.

Drowning victims in this age group tend to be in the water as opposed to toddlers who tend to be near the water.

Lakes and rivers are the settings that account for more than half of drowning among 5- to 12-year-olds. Playing in water and swimming are what two-thirds of 5- to 12-year-old victims were doing when they drowned.

One-quarter of victims were non-swimmers. And although children of this age are often playing with friends, one-quarter of victims were alone and another one-quarter were with other minors (no adults present).

The drowning death rate climbs as children enter their teenage years and begin to “push the envelope” with riskier behaviour.

Most teenage drownings happen at lakes and rivers, less so at the home pool. Half of fatal incidents occur while swimming, but other aquatic activities enter the mix as well, including powerboating, diving and jumping into water, and partying near or on the water.

Diving into shallow water is a particularly high risk activity, whose impact is only partially reflected in the drowning statistics. Many other victims suffer a broken neck or catastrophic spinal cord injury and, while they survive the incident, are paralyzed for life.

More than half of 13- to 17-year-old victims were not with adults when they drowned – either alone or with other minors. And one in five were non-swimmers or weak swimmers. Although still underage, alcohol and drugs play a significant role in elevating risk for 13- to 17-year-old victims.