These are incredibly tragic and often silent events. Fatal drowning is when someone dies from being underwater. Non-fatal drowning is when someone survives but suffers injuries, most often brain damage, because they didn’t get enough oxygen.
- What They Are: Both involve suffocation due to being submerged in a liquid.
- Causes: Often occurs in swimming pools, bathtubs, buckets, toilets, hot tubs, or natural bodies of water, such as lakes and rivers. Inadequate supervision, unfenced pools, or faulty pool drains are common factors.
- Statistics:
- Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children aged 1-4 years. It’s shocking how quickly and silently it can happen, often with adults nearby.
- For children aged 5-14 years, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death.
- For every child who dies from drowning, another eight children receive emergency department care for nonfatal drowning. This means near-drowning incidents are much more common than fatal ones.
- A significant percentage of near-drowning victims suffer permanent, severe brain damage due to lack of oxygen to the brain. This can lead to lifelong disabilities like cerebral palsy, severe cognitive impairments, and a persistent vegetative state.
- The Silent Nature: Unlike what’s often shown in movies, drowning Does not usually involve splashing or yelling. It’s often silent and quick. This is why constant, active supervision is absolutely vital around any body of water, even one that is only a few inches deep.
- Diagnosis and Treatment: Immediate CPR and emergency medical intervention are crucial. For near-drowning/nonfatal drowning, treatment focuses on oxygenation, preventing further brain damage, and then extensive neurological rehabilitation.
- Long-Term Impact: For near-drowning survivors, the impact is often catastrophic brain damage, requiring total care for life, extensive therapies, and specialized equipment. The lifetime costs can be in the millions.
Don’t let the silence define your child’s future. Take the first crucial step. Call Child & Birth Injury Lawyers immediately. We are here, ready to listen, investigate, and fight for your family, nationwide. Your child’s future depends on it.
