US drowning fatalities have risen, marking a reversal from years of decrease.

Drowning fatalities in the US have risen, countering decades of improvement.

Nearly 15% of American adults, which equates to around 40 million people, claim they don't know how to swim. Results from a recent survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that more than 50% of adults have never had swimming lessons. The CDC's findings were highlighted in a report released on Tuesday.

In line with this, there has been a rise in drowning incidents in the United States in the years following the pandemic. Generally, approximately 4,000 Americans are killed each year due to accidental drowning, a figure that remained relatively steady from 2011 to 2020. However, the last few years have witnessed an increase of about 10%, resulting in around 500 to 600 extra fatalities annually. It's the first notable spike in drowning rates in the country in at least two decades.

Dr. Debra Houry, CDC's Chief Medical Officer, shared her thoughts, saying, "When I see the overall numbers, which amount to over 4,000 people per year - that's 12 people a day - it's really one life every two hours. That's not just numbers, these are lives."

There was a significant jump in drowning cases among certain age groups and racial minorities.

Drowning has long been the number one cause of death for children under five years old. The incidence of drowning incidents in this age group leaped by almost 30% in the years 2021 and 2022. While the number of fatalities linked to drowning in children aged 4 and younger increased in 2020, the rate increase was not statistically significant that year.

The study by the CDC also showed that 1 in 3 Black adults can't swim, compared to 1 in 7 adults in the general population. This is believed to be linked to historical segregation and discrimination against Black individuals in terms of access to swimming pools in the US.

Hispanic Americans, who traditionally don't have disproportionately higher drowning rates compared to White non-Hispanics, experienced a near-25% increase in drowning cases in 2022 compared to 2019.

American Indian and Alaska Natives continue to have the highest drowning rates of any ethnic group in the country. In 2019, there were around 3 drowning deaths for every 100,000 people in these communities, a rate that has stayed relatively consistent during the pandemic. Conversely, there were 1.2 accidental drowning deaths per 100,000 people among White individuals in 2019.

Houry has difficulty pinpointing the exact role the pandemic played in the increase in drowning cases. Although the study can only establish correlations, she suggests that it might be possible that people who could not access swimming pools in 2020 due to closures or restrictions were deprived of the chance to learn how to swim.

Berkeley Champlin, a parent who experienced the tragic loss of her three-year-old son Gordie due to drowning, was unaware of the statistics surrounding drowning incidents in young children until her son met with this fate.

In 2020, Champlin's son managed to get away unnoticed from her home in Livonia, Michigan, while she was at work. At the time, his daycare center was closed due to the pandemic. Her husband, who was at home with him, later found Gordie in the family's pool. Despite attempts to revive him, he could not be saved.

Gordie had a fondness for animals and couldn't sleep without his special stuffed elephant and bunny.

"I placed his elephant and his bunny in his coffin with him so he would always have them," said Champlin. She has drawings of the stuffed animals inked on her forearm as a tribute.

Champlin yearned her son could have gotten swim lessons.

"It's very pricey. $120 a month in certain places for a child to receive swimming lessons," Champlin told the media. She set a target to pay for three children to learn how to swim every year, as she believes this could save lives in the future. In 2022, 42 families sought her help. She established a crowdfunding page to assist with covering all the expenses.

Houry from the CDC also emphasized the importance of teaching children to swim: "We seem to have forgotten that drowning still poses a significant problem for young kids, and we can prevent such unfortunate incidents from happening by ensuring they can swim."

According to Houry, the CDC is backing projects at the Red Cross and YMCA in order to provide affordability to swimming lessons and ensure that everyone who needs them has access. This is because equitable access to swimming is significantly important, she emphasized.

Houry recommends that children should start learning to swim between the ages of 1 and 4. This isn't only crucial for kids, but also for adults who don't know how to swim. It's never too late to learn, she emphasized.

Furthermore, Houry highlighted that even if children can swim, adults must not leave them unattended, have alcohol, or get distracted while monitoring them in the pool. In certain scenarios, where there's a tendency for conversations or smartphones to steal focus, having a specific adult keep an eye on the kids in the pool could be beneficial. The CDC also suggests locking the doors providing access to water after swimming sessions to mitigate any potential mishaps. Knowing CPR can be advantageous in saving a life prior to the arrival of paramedics.

Fencing that completely encloses a pool is also an effective method for the safety of backyard and community pools. In open water, such as lakes, life jackets are key to ensuring safe conditions. Before going into the water, evaluate the possible risks, like rip currents, in open water environments such as lakes or oceans.

As Gordie's birthday approaches on July 12, Champlin questions the kind of celebration he would prefer at age 6. Would he still be passionate about animals and superheroes, or would it instead be a gaming party like Roblox?

They'll continue their long-held practice of commemorating his birthday at the zoo, a place where his memories of his son remain indelible. “It's something that doesn't fade away,” she said.

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Despite the rise in drowning fatalities, only a small percentage of these individuals had swimming lessons. Around 50% of American adults have never had swimming lessons, according to a survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The lack of swimming lessons could contribute to the increase in drowning cases among certain age groups and racial minorities, as highlighted in the CDC's report.

Source: edition.cnn.com