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DROWNING AND SUBMERSION-RELATED HOSPITALIZATION IN ARIZONA AND MARICOPA COUNTY, 2016-2019

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The Drowning Prevention Coalition of Arizona appreciates the continued support of Timothy J. Flood, M.D. and the Arizona Department of Health Service in the creation of this annual report.

For an electronic version of this report go to:

https://www.azdhs.gov/preparedness/public-health-statistics/index.php#publications 



This annual report provides statistical information about drownings and nonfatal drownings occurring in Arizona, with a focus on incidents occurring in Maricopa county. Starting with data for 2016 we analyze Arizona hospitalization data, called the Hospital Discharge Database (HDD). The national switch in late 2015 to ICD-10-CM diagnostic coding allows a robust analyses of admissions to emergency departments and to the inpatient setting.

In 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 the HDD recorded 419, 454, 431, and 410 statewide admissions (incidents) among persons of all ages. Young children (0-4 years of age) comprised 952 of these admissions statewide. For the 4-year period, admissions to hospitals in Maricopa county totaled 1141, of which 706 were young children. Swimming pools and bathtubs were the water types most commonly identified in Maricopa county for incidents involving young children. Hospitalizations from incidents during the 4 years in so-called “natural water” (such as rivers and lakes) totaled 187, mostly among persons 15 years of age and older. Hospital charges for the 4 years in Maricopa county exceeded $30.1 million, and for the state $39.9 million.

A separate analysis looked at the death certificates of young children. The Maricopa count of 9 drownings in 2019, and rate of 3.3 deaths per 100,000 children were among the lowest noted in the past 14 years.

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