What are the risk factors of drowning?

Risk factors for drowning include:

- Age: Children under the age of five are at the highest risk of drowning. This is because they are curious and often unsupervised near water.

- Gender: Males are more likely to drown than females. This is thought to be due to a combination of factors, including that boys are more likely to take risks and that they may be less likely to wear life jackets.

- Race/ethnicity: Black children and adolescents are more likely to drown than white children and adolescents. This is thought to be due to a combination of factors, including that black children and adolescents are more likely to live in poverty and to have limited access to swimming pools and other safe places to swim.

- Low income: Children and adolescents from low-income families are more likely to drown than children and adolescents from higher-income families. This is thought to be due to a combination of factors, including that children and adolescents from low-income families are more likely to live in areas with inadequate access to safe swimming facilities and that they may be less likely to receive swimming lessons.

- Alcohol use: Alcohol use can impair judgment and coordination, which can increase the risk of drowning.

- Drug use: Drug use can also impair judgment and coordination, which can increase the risk of drowning.

- Medical conditions: Certain medical conditions, such as heart disease, epilepsy, and diabetes, can increase the risk of drowning.

- Swimming ability: Children and adolescents who cannot swim well are at the highest risk of drowning. This is especially true for children and adolescents who are not familiar with the water or who are swimming in unfamiliar waters.

- Lack of supervision: Children and adolescents who are unsupervised near water are at the highest risk of drowning. This is especially true for children and adolescents who are swimming alone.

- Unsafe swimming environment: Swimming in unsafe waters, such as those with strong currents, high waves, or slippery surfaces, can increase the risk of drowning.