Drowning Statistics

More than 900 children die every year due to drowning. The majority of these accidents happen right under the noses of adults who think their kids are adequately supervised. Nearly 90% of all children who drowned between the ages of 1 and 14 drowned even though there was a person, generally a family member, supervising their time in the pool.

In addition, 55% of parents think that it’s ok to let a child swim unsupervised in some instances. It is, quite frankly, never a good idea to let a child or anyone else swim unsupervised. There are a variety of situations that can arise which can be life threatening, regardless of a child’s ability to swim.

Parents also feel that air-filled water wings, also called floaties, will prevent drowning. This too is untrue. It is so untrue that the devices say on them that they are not life saving devices and should not be used as a life saving device. The only things that will prevent drowning and keep a kid adequately afloat are Coast Guard Approved personal flotation devices (PFDs) or lifejackets.

A convincing argument for teaching children to swim is that 75% of drowning victims didn’t know how to swim. All children should receive swimming lessons before they turn 8. While it seems obvious that teaching a child to swim will help prevent drowning, the idea clearly hasn’t stuck with some parents.

If you have been injured in a pool, please contact the Kenosha personal injury lawyers of Habush, Habush, & Rottier at 1-866-499-4700 to discuss your case and to determine your legal options.