Chapter 11 - For The Safety of Canadian Children And Youth

Chapter 11

Drownings, Near Drownings and Other Water-Related Injuries

HIGHLIGHTS

Hospitalization rates for near drowning varied little between 1981 and 1992; mortality rates fell by more than 40%. During the 1990-1992 period, drownings accounted for 11% of deaths due to unintentional injury among children and youth, ranking second after motor vehicle occupant injuries.

According to the Red Cross Canadian Surveillance System for Water-Related Fatalities (CSSWRF), of the 65 children and youth under 20 who drowned while boating between 1991 and 1993 only 20% were wearing a floatation device correctly, and another 8% were wearing an improperly fastened or inappropriately sized device. CSSWRF reports that only 3% of home pools where a toddler drowned were reported to have a self-closing, self-latching gate and a fence that met municipal standards.

According to CHIRPP data for 1993, 18.5% of near drownings occurred in the bathroom, and in all of these the children were under 10. Momentary absence of supervision sometimes resulted in near drownings, but these episodes were brief enough to allow resuscitation. Six near-drowning incidents involved bathtub seats or rings.

CHAPTER 11
Drownings, Near Drownings and Other Water-Related Injuries