For kids between the ages of one and four, few things are as dangerous as the water. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning actually ranks as the leading cause of death when looking at unintentional deaths within this age group.
One study looked at the deaths of children between the ages of zero and 14, and it found that an average of 390 children drowned every single year. This study was just for the years between 2011 and 2013, but it does give some idea of the consistent danger that can be expected.
Interestingly, there is an apparent racial connection to these deaths, when examining the passing of white children and African American children. For kids between 5 and 19, African American children were at far greater risk, as they were 5.5 times as likely to pass away in a drowning accident in a pool.
Age is also a huge factor. About two thirds of the deaths (67 percent) involved children who were between 1 and 3, according to one study. When simply looking at all children under the age of five, they accounted for an astounding 76 percent of the drowning deaths.
Illinois is a relatively high-risk state, with 11 deaths in 2014. There was more risk in states like Florida (50) and California (36), though many factors — such as overall population — have to be taken into account. Regardless, since this is a high-risk state compared to places like Montana (0) and Michigan (2), it’s crucial for parents to know what legal options they have if a property owner’s negligence leads to a drowning incident that results in injury or death.
Source: PoolSafely.gov, “Drowning Deaths and Injuries Infographic,” accessed Aug. 19, 2016