Research Data & Statistics

Drowning is the single leading cause of death for children age 1-4 in the U.S. Nearly 500 children age 1-4 drown every year, accounting for nearly half of the over 1,000 children  (ages 0-17) who drown in the U.S. Every year. 

The equivalent of four commercial jets of children perishes due to drowning. Every year.

Globally, drowning is the 3rd leading cause of death of children ages 5-14. 

Children drown on the way to school because there are no safe crossings through rivers/streams... leading parents to keep them at home until age 8+.

Worldwide -- in HIC and LMIC countries alike -- toddlers commonly drown within just 20 meters of home. Barriers and supervision are environmental mitigation mechanisms to help prevent exposure, but controlling the environment alone will never be sufficient to curb childhood drowning.  In-water intervention is required for children to perceptively learn the meaning of water. 

What's more, avoidance of water is not a solution -- especially in an era in which we can no longer avoid the water, in urban and rural areas alike. The water is coming to us, via floods, atmospheric rivers, or simply the rainy season's larger-than-normal impact as our climate warms. We must be ready at an individual and a population level, equipped with the skills to survive water.

Guided by research, scientific evidence, & translation of research > practice, DRIPPI chronicles the ways in which organizations; local, state, & national governments; philanthropy; politicians; media; medicine; families & communities can unite to create scalable, sustainable solutions for in-water intervention coupled with environmental mitigation. 

We are doing this work locally as well as alongside national and international partners. Our partners range from internationally renowned researchers to local, municipal, and national governments implementing programmatic interventions around the world . We hope you'll join us in this mission!

Childhood Leading Causes of Death, 2001-2022 (Children Ages 1-4)