The majority of children who drown in swimming pools were last seen in the home, had been missing from sight for less than 5 minutes, and were in the care of one or both parents at the time of the drowning. Since 1980, approximately 230 children ages 4 and under have drowned in spas and hot tubs. In 1995, more than 900 children ages 14 and under were treated in hospital emergency rooms for personal watercraft-related injuries. Children ages 4 and under have the highest drowning death rate, a rate two to three times greater than other age groups, and account for nearly 60 percent of home drownings. These drownings typically occur in swimming pools and bathtubs.
Boys have a drowning rate two to four times that of girls.
However, females have a bathtub drowning rate twice the rate of males. In general, in the United States black children ages 14 and under have a drowning death rate that is two times greater than white children. However, white children ages 1 to 4 have a drowning death rate that is twice that of black children, primarily from residential swimming pool drownings. Among children hospitalized for near drownings, prolonged submersion and time until resuscitative efforts are initiated, as well as hypothermia, are strongly associated with poor outcomes. Door alarms, pool alarms and automatic pool covers, when used correctly, can add an extra level of protection.