Drowning and submersion while in swimming pool, undetermined intent Save
ICD-10 code: Y21.2
Chapter: External causes of morbidity and mortality
Drowning and Submersion While in Swimming Pool, Undetermined Intent
Drowning and submersion incidents can happen to anyone, and they are among the leading causes of accidental death worldwide. When these incidents occur in swimming pools, they can be especially devastating, as they often involve young children and are often preventable. In some cases, however, the intent behind the incident may be unclear, leading to an undetermined cause of death.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were an estimated 3,572 fatal unintentional drownings in the United States in 2018 alone. Of these, around one in five involved children under the age of 14. In many cases, drowning and submersion incidents occur due to a lack of adult supervision, swimming in areas that are not designated for swimming, or not knowing how to swim.
When a drowning or submersion incident occurs in a swimming pool, it is important to determine the cause of the incident and whether it could have been prevented. In some cases, the intent behind the incident may be unclear, such as in cases where a person voluntarily enters the water and then becomes unable to swim. This is known as undetermined intent.
Undetermined intent drownings can be difficult to investigate, as there may be no clear evidence of what happened leading up to the incident. In some cases, there may be signs of foul play or suicide, but in other cases, the cause may remain a mystery. It is important for investigators to thoroughly examine the scene of the incident, gather witness statements, and look for any other evidence that may help determine what happened.
- Always supervise children when swimming
- Swim in designated areas only
- Learn how to swim and teach others to swim
- Never swim alone
- Install barriers around swimming pools to prevent unsupervised access
By following these guidelines, you can help prevent drowning and submersion incidents from occurring in swimming pools. If you do experience a drowning or submersion incident, it is important to seek medical attention immediately and to contact authorities to report the incident. By working together, we can help prevent these tragedies from occurring and keep our communities safe.