As 2020 rolls on, we’re already building towards a clear picture of the drowning dangers we’re facing. Today, join the Life Saver Pool Fence blog for a look at the total U.S. Drowning Stats for February.
One of the most quoted facts about drowning danger comes directly from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Besides birth defects, drowning is responsible for more deaths among children aged one through four than any other cause.
Each month, this drowning data is collected by renowned experts who work to eradicate the risk of drowning. Truth be told, with proper education and preparation, drowning is preventable. The following monthly charts and maps of U.S. drowning stats provide valuable information for concerned citizens. We can clearly see the exact ages and causes of these tragic events. By charting and following these trends, we can see where more education is needed across the nation. The drowning stats for February 2020 are yet another piece of the puzzle.
U.S. Drowning Stats for February 2020
As previously explained, these drowning stats are verified by renowned industry experts. The charts are collected by Total Aquatic Programming. In a nutshell, this organization provides detailed maps and charts of drowning incidents across the country for every month of the year. In this next section, we’ll compare numbers from last month with numbers from the month of February in previous years. This analysis stretches back to the year 2009. As our regular readers know, this basic chart focuses on four key age groups and how they are affected by drowning:
- Children aged four and younger
- Children aged 12 and under
- Teenagers
- Adults, meaning anyone older than teens
Chart: Drowning Stats for February 2020
| February | Total | Child 4-u | Child 12-u | Teen | Adult |
| 2020-Feb | 35 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 24 |
| 2019-Feb | 66 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 58 |
| 2018-Feb | 65 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 48 |
| 2017-Feb | 60 | 12 | 2 | 5 | 41 |
| 2016-Feb | 64 | 13 | 5 | 0 | 46 |
| 2015-Feb | 48 | 9 | 1 | 5 | 33 |
| 2014-Feb | 56 | 14 | 2 | 3 | 37 |
| 2013-Feb | 50 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 38 |
| 2012-Feb | 76 | 15 | 5 | 1 | 55 |
| 2011-Feb | 74 | 19 | 10 | 5 | 40 |
| 2010-Feb | 39 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 23 |
| 2009-Feb | 61 | 14 | 2 | 9 | 36 |
As you can see, the drowning stats for February 2020 are rather promising. Across most of the age brackets, the numbers have remained relatively static when compared to 2019. That is, of course, with the exception of adults. We have seen a major drop in adult drownings since last year. Going back to the beginning of these records, it’s one of the lowest years on record! The only time it was better was in 2010! Hopefully this indicates that drowning prevention efforts are working. Perhaps more adults are getting swimming lessons. After all, you’re never too old to learn to swim!
Drowning Map for 2019
In addition to the December 2019 drowning stats above, we have been provided with two more graphics. The first is a nationwide drowning map for all of 2019. 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 through July 2019.
Understanding This Map
Please note that the numbers inside each state on this map represent the ages of the children, not the number of children. Each age represents one child. So, if a child was 10-11-12 years old, their age is underlined so as not to confuse as two separate numbers. For example, a 12-year-old would be listed on the map as “12.”
Where Do These Drowning Stats Come From?
These U.S. drowning stats and graphics are brought to us courtesy of Mick and Sue 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.
