The facts below are provided by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)

• A drowning can occur in only 2 inches of water.
• Near drownings can cause severe brain damage, memory problems and learning disorders.
• Near drownings can cause death at a later time due to complications of the chemistry in the lungs.
• About 350 children under the age of 5 drown in pools each year.
• Another 2,600 are treated in hospitals for near-drowning incidents.
• Drowning is the 2nd leading cause of death after auto accidents for children under the age of 5.
• Drowning is the 2nd leading cause of death for all children between the ages of 1 and 14.
• A majority of drowning accidents occur in backyard pools
• In 2004 males accounted for 78% of accident fatal drownings.
• Of all the children under the age of 5, 26% of the annual deaths are the cause of accidental drownings.
• For those with seizure disorders, drowning is the number 1 cause of death. Most deaths occur in bathtubs
• Alcohol is involved in 25% to 50% of teenage and adult fatal drowning accidents.

Remember to use extreme caution when participating in any type of water recreation – whether you are swimming laps in your backyard, or out boating on a lake.