Young children who drown in hot tubs, spas, and whirlpools in California: a 26-year survey.

Abstract

IntroductionDrowning is the third leading cause of injury death nationally and the second leading cause of injury deaths at ages 1, 2, and 5.1 A recent study in Los Angeles County (California) indicated that residential hot tubs, whirlpools, and spas (Jacuzzis) were the site of over 6 percent of all drownings for children under two years ofage.2 Although two reports34 mention hot water, there has been no systematic survey of this problem. Specific drowning site profiles could enhance prevention efforts. This report focuses on unintentional drownings ofchildren which occurred in residential hot tubs, spas, and whirlpools in California from 1960 through 1985.

Where Do People Drown? Encoding the Third Component of the 4W Model

“…More precisely, research has shown that people drown in open water (Lifesaving Society, 2000;Mackie, 1999;Water Safety New Zealand, 2003); in inland water (Bierens et al, 1996;Nichter & Everett, 1993;Pearn et al, 1976;Royal Life Saving Society Australia, 2001b;Water Safety New Zealand, 2003); in public or home swimming pools (Mackie, 1999;Victorian Injury Surveillance System, 1990); in water parks (Raging Waters, 2001); in residential hot tubs, spas, and whirlpools (Shinaberger et al, 1990;Royal Life Saving Society Australia, 2001b); in waterholes, dams, and garden ponds (Pearn et al, 1976; Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, 2001); in unattended buckets even partially filled with water (Department of Trade Industry, 1996); and in bath tubs and even toilets (Pearn et al, 1976(Pearn et al, , 1979Petridou & Klimentopoulou, 2006;Quan et al, 1989).…”

Who Drowns? Encoding the Second Component of the 4W Model

“…Research has shown that even physically fit and competent swimmers can drown (e.g., Athlitiki Iho, 1996;Eleftherotipia, 1996;Hitas, 1996aHitas, , 1996b. Several types of disabilities and conditions such as epilepsy (Lip & Brodie, 1992;Osamura, Fushiki, Yoshioka, Yamanaka, & Mizuta, 1997;Saxena & Ang, 1993;Schmidt, Guggolz, & du Bois, 1991;Schmidt & Madea, 1995), autism (Sibert et al, 2002), Angelman syndrome (Ishmael, Begleiter, & Butler, 2002), Roman-Ward syndrome (Ishmael et al, 2002), cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, multiple handicaps (Shinaberger, Anderson, & Kraus, 1990), and even pregnancy (Ronsmans & Khlat, 1999) have been linked with drowning. People of all age groups have been found to be involved in drowning incidents (e.g., McGee, Krug, & Peden 2002; Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, 2001;Uchiyama, Tanaka, Ishii, Ikemi, & Osaka 2002).…”

Unintentional injury: A major health problem for young children and youth

“…Detailed morbidity statistics would be useful, but few were available (Jackson, 1988). Several recent studies have focused on child drownings and near drownings in states with high rates (especially Arizona and California) (Flood & Aickin, 1990;O'Carroll, Alkon, & Weiss, 1988;Shinaberger, Anderson, & Kraus, 1990). Children under age five were more likely to drown in pools and standing household water, including reports of toddlers drowning in large buckets (Jumbelic & Chambliss, 1990).…”

“…Thus very close supervision is essential. This is true for several other sources of drowning in young children, including hot tubs and industrial-type five-gallon buckets (Jumbelic & Chambliss, 1990;Shinaberger et al, 1990). Having a cordless phone or a phone close to the pool helps to prevent the parents being distracted from supervision for telephone calls while the child is in the pool area.…”