Child drownings increased by sixty percent in Louisiana last year according to the state health department. The number of infant and child drownings, ages zero to fourteen in 2020 was 24, which is up from 15 in 2019. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter said pediatric drownings in the state have been an ongoing issue.
“Because we have so much water available to us, because we like to be outside in the summer it’s so hot, and because the availability of swimming lessons is not as robust as we’d like it to be,” said Kanter.
The CDC said Louisiana has the fourth-highest drowning rate from children in the U-S and drowning remains the third leading cause of death for children ages one to fourteen.
Kanter said when you look at individual drownings there are a couple of things in common.
“You’re much more likely to have a drowning in your home if you don’t have a physical barrier around the pool. If you don’t have a fence or a gate or something that separates the pool,” said Kanter.
A second trend Kanter said is when a single person is not assigned to act as a lifeguard at a gathering when children are swimming, and the task falls by the wayside when it’s assumed all adults are watching.
“When you go out to the beach or to the river, or any place where there’s going to be swimming or water involved, you really need to have one adult whose sole responsibility it is to keep an eye on the children when they’re around the water,” said Kanter.
Kanter recommends checking fences and gates around your pool regularly, have children wear Coast Guard-approved life jackets, and never leave children unattended in any body of water.
According to the Pool and Hot Tub Alliance, the industry reported a historic increase of 24% in 2020.
Comments