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Interventions to Prevent Drowning

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Handbook of Injury and Violence Prevention

Drowning refers to an event in which a person’s airway is immersed in a liquid medium leading to respiratory difficulty (Idris et al., 2003). This may result in a drowning death or survival.

Drowning is a multifaceted injury, involving multiple patterns that vary by age group, body of water (bath, swimming pool, and open water), and activity. However, the patterns vary consistently wherever studied. In many countries, drowning is among the top three leading causes of injury death. Drowning death rates are highest in preschoolers, aged 1–4 years, and second highest in older adolescents and young adults (15–24 years). Most preschoolers in North America drown after falling into swimming pools while by the water; older children and adults are primarily in or on the water, boating or swimming, when they drown. The highest case fatality rates are in adults. Males predominate. Among older teenagers and young adults who drown, the male to female ratio may be as high as 6 : 1.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Emergency Services, Children’s Hospital and Medical Center-University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98105

    Linda Quan MD (Director)

  2. Children’s Hospital and Medical Center, Seattle, WA, 98145

    Elizabeth E. Bennett MPH, CHES (Patient/Family Communications and Education Manager)

  3. Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention, CDC National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Atlanta, GA, 30341

    Christine M. Branche PhD (Director)

Authors
  1. Linda Quan MD
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  2. Elizabeth E. Bennett MPH, CHES
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  3. Christine M. Branche PhD
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Linda Quan MD , Elizabeth E. Bennett MPH, CHES or Christine M. Branche PhD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Atlanta, GA, 30341, USA

    Lynda S. Doll , Sandra E. Bonzo , David A. Sleet  & James A. Mercy , ,  & 

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Quan, L., Bennett, E.E., Branche, C.M. (2008). Interventions to Prevent Drowning. In: Doll, L.S., Bonzo, S.E., Sleet, D.A., Mercy, J.A. (eds) Handbook of Injury and Violence Prevention. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-29457-5_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-29457-5_5

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