Cyprus and Greece pool safety: drowning statistics 
- Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths to children aged 14 and under. Child drownings can happen in a matter of seconds - in the time it takes to answer the phone, or open the front door to a caller.
- A swimming pool is 14 times more likely than a motor vehicle to be involved in the death of a child aged 4 and under.
- Each year, there are 600 to 800 swimming pool-related drowning deaths in the USA alone. Of all age groups, children aged 1-4 have the highest drowning death rate.
- Approximately half of all drownings involving children under five occur in residential swimming pools.
- For every child drowning, up to 14 children are taken to hospital emergency departments, and four are admitted to hospital. Of children surviving near-drownings, there is up to a 20% chance of brain damage due to lack of oxygen, which may give rise to severe and permanent disabilities.
- In the 'under 4 years of age' group, 70% are in the care of one or both parents at the time of the drowning and 75% are missing from sight for five minutes or less.
- Remember: water with it's rippling, shimmering appeal is a magnet for children. Children under the age of six have no fear of water and no concept of death. They associate water with play and not with danger.
