Every year, thousands of people in the United States suffer from a fatal drowning accident.
In 2005, there were a reported 3,582 unintentional drowning deaths in the US.
This number doesn't even include boating-related deaths (including drowning), of which there were 710.
Given these statistics, it comes as no surprise that this type of accident has been cited as one of the top five causes of accidental death in this country.
How do we define drowning? Drowning occurs when the lungs are filled with a liquid, so that the victim cannot breathe or absorb oxygen, and therefore subsequently suffocates.
Though we most commonly associate death with drowning, it does not always result in a fatality.
Drowning survivors often suffer injuries related to lack of oxygen to the brain, which include loss of memory, mental disability, and other permanent impairments.
Risk Factors There are a number of risk factors associated with drowning:

• Consumption of alcohol
• Lack of barriers
• Lack of supervision
• Fatigue or cramping
• Medical disorders, such as seizures
• Falling unexpectedly into water
• Suffering an injury while in the water
• Lack of swimming skills
• No life preserver
• Failure to follow swimming pool rules

In general, children and males are more likely to drown than adults and females.
Children most commonly are put at risk when there are not barriers or supervision in place.
They often lack the familiarity with the water, strength, and coordination that adults have.
Adults, on the other hand, typically drown as a result of the inhibiting effects of alcohol use.
Protect Yourself and Your Children Drowning is almost always preventable.
If you take the following steps, you can effectively safeguard yourself and your family against dangerous drowning situations:

• Know how to swim
• Always make sure that children are supervised by an adult when they swim
• Never go swimming alone, especially in an open water setting
• Don't consumer alcohol or other mind-altering drugs before swimming
• Don't rely on floating toys (like noodles) to keep you afloat
• Make sound judgments when engaging in water activities

It is also recommended that adult swimmers - in particular, those with children - learn how to administer CPR in the case of an emergency.
Contact Us If someone you love has been severely disabled or killed in a drowning accident, then you may have the right to recover damages from the responsible party.
The Tucson personal injury lawyers of Haralson, Miller, Pitt, Feldman & McAnally, PLC have the experience necessary to help you assert an effective claim.
To learn more or to schedule a free initial consultation, visit our website today at http://www.
hmpmlaw.
com/.