U.S.: Ten people drown each day

ATLANTA, May 27 (UPI) -- Every day, 10 people in the United States drown, researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say.

From 2005-09, there were an average of 3,533 fatal unintentional U.S. non-boating related drownings annually, or about 10 deaths per day. An additional 347 people died each year from drowning in boating-related incidents.

For every child who dies from drowning, another five receive emergency department care for non-fatal submersion injuries, the CDC says.

More than 50 percent of drowning victims treated in emergency departments require hospitalization or transfer for further care. These non-fatal drowning injuries can cause severe brain damage that may result in long-term disabilities such as memory problems, learning disabilities, and permanent loss of basic functioning such as a permanent vegetative state, the CDC says.

Nearly 80 percent of those who die from drowning are male. Children ages 1-4 have the highest drowning rates -- most drownings occur in home swimming pools.

The main factors that affect drowning risk are lack of swimming ability, lack of barriers to prevent unsupervised water access, lack of close supervision while swimming, location, failure to wear life jackets, alcohol use and seizure disorders.