USA: “Blacks aged 5-19 years 5.5 times more likely to drown in a swimming pool”

A new report published this week by the US Centre for Disease Control (CDC) highlights the disparity in rates of drowning between racial/ethnic groups in the USA.

The report highlights that rates of drowning are highest in American Indians/Alaskan Natives, who are twice as likely to drown as their white peers.

Astonishingly the report also highlights that blacks aged 5-19 years are 5.5 times more likely to drown in a swimming pool than their white peers.

The report concludes that these rates may be much higher, as exposure to water was not measured as part of the study.

 

FIGURE 1. Rates of fatal unintentional drowning among persons aged ≤29 years, by age and race/ethnicity* — United States, 1999–2010. Source: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, CDC, May 16, 2014 / 63(19);421-426

Causation for the disparity were not measured as part of the study, however previous studies have suggested opportunities to learn swimming skills may be differ between racial/ethnic groups.

The authors recommend teaching survival swimming skills as a drowning prevention strategy.