Abstract
Introduction:For children ages 1–14, 21.6% of drowning cases involve swimming, wading, or playing in natural bodies of water, such as rivers and lakes. Personal flotation devices (PFDs) are believed to be an effective prevention measure. We measure compliance with city and county ordinances, publicized but not actively enforced, requiring that PFDs be worn by children accessing public bodies of water in Sacramento County, California.Methods:During June–August 2010, volunteers conducted 79 observation sessions at three popular local river beaches where PFDs were available for use at no cost. They recorded personal characteristics and PFD use for 1,727 children in or very near the water and believed to be 0–13 years of age (the age covered by the ordinances). We used logistic regression to quantify differences in use by subject characteristics and study site.Results:The prevalence of PFD use was 29.9% overall, with large and significant differences by age: < 1, 55.6%; 1–4, 37.6%; 5–10, 29.4%; 10–13, 14.6%; P < 0.0001. Usage did not vary significantly by sex or race/ethnicity, and was somewhat higher at one study site (33.1%) than at the others (25.9% and 27.3%), P = 0.009.Conclusion:The combination of a statutory requirement and a cost-elimination strategy was associated with moderate rates of PFD use that were highest among young children.
Highlights
For children ages 1-14, 21.6% of drowning cases involve swimming, wading, or playing in natural bodies of water, such as rivers and lakes
The combination of a statutory requirement and a cost-elimination strategy was associated with moderate rates of Personal flotation devices (PFDs) use that were highest among young children. [West J Emerg Med 2013;14(2):200-203.]
One case-control study of childhood drowning in rural China, with 74% of cases occurring in lakes, rivers, or ponds and none in swimming pools, reported PFD use by 8.3% of cases and 15.0% of controls.[7]
Summary
For children ages 1-14, 21.6% of drowning cases involve swimming, wading, or playing in natural bodies of water, such as rivers and lakes. Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death among children ages 1-14 in the United States, accounting for 21.2% of such deaths (704 of 3,328) in 2008.1 On average, 3,427 children ages 1-14 were treated for nonfatal submersion injuries annually during 2001-2010 in United States hospital emergency departments (ED).[1] Of childhood drownings in 2008, 21.6% occurred among children who were swimming, wading, or playing in or near natural bodies of water, such as rivers, lakes, streams, or the ocean. Parents who were unaware of the campaign reported no change in use.[8]
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