The national drowning stats for June 2021 are here… and unfortunately, it is not as hopeful as the numbers we saw last month. While June 2021 isn’t the worst month on record, it is definitely a step back.
U.S. Drowning Stats for June 2021
Our regular readers know that we share updated drowning stats and maps at the beginning of each month. Water safety is a complicated subject, so it is important to take time to analyze the data available to us. This information is presented by Total Aquatic Programming. Combined with the information on their website, we can get a birds-eye view of any possible drowning danger trends. This provides an opportunity for additional education around trending topics.
Besides location and age, there are many factors that go into these statistics. Today, we will be comparing last month’s data with data from each month of June over the past 12 years.
Using this data, water safety experts are able to track trends and certain patterns of behavior. Total Aquatic Programming’s data tracks more than 15 separate items from every drowning that occurs throughout the country.
These items include, but are not limited to:
- date
- state
- city
- county
- age and gender of the victim
- ethnicity, if recorded
- body of water in which the drowning occurred
- and several other circumstances that can help to provide some guidance in the prevention of future drownings.
Chart: Drowning Statistics for June 2009-2021
As mentioned earlier, these drowning stats go all the way back to 2009. To accurately gauge the time of year, they compare each individual June.
As you can see in the chart below, the drowning stats for June 2021 are not the worst month on record. That said, there are 83 more deaths versus when the tracking began. Last June was particularly alarming for children aged 12 and up. Fortunately, there has been a decrease there, though it is still a bit higher than expected.
Most of the other categories saw a rise as well. In particular, the youngest children saw a major increase over 2020. That said, it is very important to remember where we were as a society last year. Many people were avoiding swimming due to COVID-19 safety guidelines. This may account for some of the lower numbers last year. Overall, the return to higher numbers may be due to adults and children acting a bit more reckless now that COVID-19 protocols are lifting. Pandemic or no, we should always remember that safety concerns should always remain top-of-mind.
Understanding The Numbers: Drowning Maps for 2019/2020
In addition to the June 2021 drowning stats, Total Aquatic Programming has provided us with two additional graphics. The first is a nationwide drowning map for all of 2020. This map identifies “hot spots” of child drowning incidents on a state-by-state basis. Please take a look at the map below. It has been updated to include all drownings that have occurred since July 2008.
Up next is the detailed 2021 map, which takes a closer look at child drownings. Please note that the numbers listed on each state represent the ages of the children involved in these incidents, not the number of children. Each age represents one child. For example, a 12-year-old would be listed on the map as “12.”
The Source of These Drowning Statistics
All of these U.S. Drowning Stats and graphics are brought to us courtesy of Sue and Mick Nelson of Total Aquatic Programming, LLC. USA Swimming, the national governing body for competitive swimming in the United States, also uses this information. If you are interested in learning more about the people behind this data, watch our full Child Safety Source interview with Mick Nelson. Additionally, you can visit Total Aquatic Programming’s official website to see even more in-depth information about drowning danger and statistics.
