Summer is a time for children to play outside, enjoy picnics, and bask in the sun by the pool. However, it’s important to remain vigilant as these seemingly harmless activities can quickly become life-threatening when young children and water are in the mix. Sadly, in July, three families in North Alabama are facing tragedy because of accidental drownings. A two-year-old girl from Arab and a second two-year-old from Faulkville passed away after accidental drownings in family pools. A five-year-old Harvest boy was reported missing by his family and was later found in a body of water and eventually died. Even though there is no way to prevent all such tragedies, steps can be taken to lessen the risks. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), drowning is a leading cause of death for children in the United States. Ten people die each day from unintentional drowning, and on average, two of them are under age 14. Additionally, drowning is responsible for more deaths among children ages one to four than any other cause except birth defects. Children and adults who are on the autism spectrum are also more in danger of drowning than others with it being the leading cause of death in that group. According to statistics, children with autism spectrum disorder are 160 times more likely to experience nonfatal and fatal drowning than their typically developing peers. Drowning is also the second-leading cause of unintentional injury-related death behind motor vehicle crashes. For every child who dies from drowning, another five receive emergency care for nonfatal submersion injuries.
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