Safe Kids examined data of children ages 14 and younger who were injured or died as a result of an unintentional injury, with a focus on drowning, motor vehicle crashes, pedestrian incidents, falls and bike crashes between 1991 and 1996. And 45 percent of deaths among children 10 to 14 years old occur during the summer. Twelve percent of all deaths occur in July. Drowning is the greatest summer risk for children ages 14 and younger, increasing 96 percent above the rest of the year. The statistics came as no surprise to public health and medical professionals, who have long suspected that unintentional injuries follow a seasonal pattern.
Summer is so infamous for having near-drowning and drowning victims.
That's because children tend to be less supervised during the summer. According to Safe Kids polls looking at the safety attitudes and behaviors of adults and children ages 7 to 12, many parents unknowingly put their kids at risk. Older children might fuss about wearing helmets and other protective gear when riding bikes and skateboards, but it's illegal in many states for them not to wear a helmet. In most states, children younger than 18 must wear a helmet when riding bikes or as passengers on bikes. Motorized scooters also require helmets but skateboards, scooters and roller skates do not.