Drownings in a private lake--North Carolina, 1981-1990

Drowning is the third most common cause of death from unintentional injury in the United States (1); in 1989, in North Carolina, drownings were the leading cause of years of potential life lost before age 65 per death (2). From July 1 through August 31, 1990, two drownings occurred in a private lake in Beaufort County (1990 population: 42,283), North Carolina. A review of data from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) in North Carolina identified two additional drownings at this lake during 1981-1990, and a total of 17 drownings in the county during the 10-year period. At the request of the local health director, in October 1990, the North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources (DEHNR) investigated the drownings using information from OCME files, hospital medical records, and ambulance reports. This report summarizes the investigation of the four drownings in the private lake, recommendations to prevent additional drownings, and characteristics of drownings in North Carolina in 1989.