In suburban Rochester, Joseph McCarthy-Petralia was found drowned in an above-ground pool. His mother found him unresponsive. He was taken emergently to Strong Memorial Hospital. More details are not available at this time. News stories report that police have not filed charges in the matter at this time.
Toddlers are at the highest risk of drowning across the child-lifespan. They do not have the developmental ability to swim, nor can they keep their heads above water, or know how to get out of water. Young children can drown in very shallow water, including pails of liquid, toilets, bathtubs and baby pools. Drowning is the second leading cause of deaths related to injuries after motor vehicle accidents. According to the CDC, children between the ages of one and four years of age are more likely to drown in swimming pools and hot tubs. Mortality rates secondary to drowning are three times higher for males. Approximately 78% of drowning victims are male. Near-drowning accidents can result in permanent brain damage. For every child that drowns there are approximately five near-drowning episodes in children. Drowning is the second highest cause of injury-related deaths in children between the ages of one and nine years old.
Unlike adults, young children do not call out for help while in distress, they generally drown silently. Supervision is very important, for this reason.
Because of a toddlers’ lack of judgment, they are at high risk for injury. Their limited coordination, increased curiosity and toddler-problem solving abilities, they will get injured with a lack of supervision. Toddlers will fall down stairs, climb onto furniture and climb through open windows. Males tend to get injured more, but the overall incidence of injury peaks in this age group. The major cause of injury is related to environmental factors, such as hazardous structures, drowning and pools of water, burns and overly heated water, cooking and open flames, motor vehicles and inappropriate use of restraints, and inappropriate storage of household poisons.
