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Demographics
Of Aquatic Fatalities
To enhance the effectiveness of our water
safety public awareness campaign, it is best to identify what
information is available on the demographics of aquatic
fatalities.
Who:
 | Nationwide
the majority of aquatic fatalities involve 18-35 year olds;
within the corps- managed recreation areas 27 percent are within the ages of 11-20. |
| Corps-wide 87 percent are males.
Nationally, it is estimated that men are four times more
likely to drown than women. |
| Nationwide
it is estimated that 2/3 of drowning victims are poor or
non-swimmers. |
| National
figures estimate that African Americans are twice as likely
to die of drowning as non-African Americans. |
What:
| Nationwide
1/7 of all drownings are boating related.
There is a growing concern for accidents related to
the use of personal watercraft. |
When:
| Most
drownings are within 10 feet of safety or 50 feet from
shore. Nationwide,
60 percent of all drownings are at rural lakes, ponds, and
gravel pits. |
How:
| An
estimated 60 percent of all drownings are witnessed.
Most drowning tends to involve fully clothed, panicked,
poor or non-swimmers, or good swimmers who have compromised
their swimming skills through injury or alcohol/drug
abuse-overuse. The
average boating accident involves a craft of less than 16
feet, not moving, no motor, or less than 10 HP. |
Why:
| Nationally,
it is estimated that 50 percent of drowning victims have
been drinking and 1/3 may be legally intoxicated.
Corps wide, only 21 percent of drownings are related
to alcohol or drugs. |
| Nationwide
it is estimated that 85 percent of boating accidents victims
could live if wearing a life jacket. |
Goals:
Nashville District formed a Water Safety
Task Force in 1998 to focus on promoting water safety in an
effort to reduce public accidents and fatalities at our lakes,
locks and dams. The
following are a few of our goals:
| Educate
the public with water safety information on the district web
page, bulletin boards in recreation areas, camping permits,
fishing reports and visitor centers. |
| During routine boat patrols, distribute water safety information to
the boating public. |
| Inform
the public about required boating safety equipment through
courtesy boat inspections. |
| As
a District and as a team, to work towards reducing the number of
drownings on America’s waterways. |
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