Yet most of the tragedies that occur could probably be prevented with basic safety equipment or increased vigilance.
Young people are particularly at risk.
In the past decade, an average of four people under 20 have died each year in the western Washington wilderness. Drowning was the most frequent cause of death, followed by closed head injury, according to Dr. Douglas Diekema, emergency services physician at Childrens Hospital and Regional Medical Center in Seattle, and clinical assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington School of Medicine. None of the victims were alone, and those under 10 were all accompanied by adults. Among children under 5, several drowned due to very brief lapses of attention by their parents. None of them were swimming, but they were close to water.