Drowning is the process of experiencing respiratory impairment from submersion/immersion in liquid. Outcomes are classified as death, morbidity and no morbidity.
Young children are at a particularly high risk of drowning due to an underdeveloped ability to assess risk and a lack of swimming and water safety skills.
The risk of drowning increases when children interact with water outside of active adult supervision.
Children and young adults aged 0–29 years account for over half (57%) of all drowning deaths.
The highest drowning rates per population are among children aged 0–4 years.
The drowning death rate among males is more than twice as high as females.
Males are also more likely to be hospitalised than females for non-fatal drowning.
