Hospitalized pediatric drowning in Zhejiang, China (2010-2021): an epidemiological analysis

Despite advancements in public health awareness in China, pediatric drowning remains a significant concern with no marked decline in incidence. This study is to explore the changes in the epidemiological characteristics of children drowning.

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 296 drowning children who received treatment from January 2010 to December 2021.

We found that 1-3-year-old male children have the highest incidence of drowning in the afternoon of summer, especially in natural water in rural areas, which are more dangerous than swimming pools. The pre hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) time and drowning time are significantly associated with the outcome of the patient. In children without clear drowning time, our study found that clinical indicators such as Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, blood lactate level, blood pH value, and blood glucose have a certain association with the outcomes of the children. The occurrence of child drowning incidents did not show significant changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic or the national control measures.

Pediatric drowning persists as a critical public health issue, with rural areas posing the greatest risk. Early rescue and high-quality basic life support are key to improving outcomes. Targeted prevention strategies should prioritize rural water safety and caregiver education, while clinical indicators may aid in assessment of outcomes when drowning history is unavailable.