Background: Submersion and subsequent drowning in children and adolescents is a preventable unintentional accident which may result in death and neurological injuries due to hypoxia and ischemia. The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiologic pattern of drowning and near-drowning among children and adolescents admitted in Kashan Beheshti Hospital during 1993-2005.

Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study the medical records of all drowned and near-drowned cases admitted in Beheshti Hospital during a 12 year period were studied. All data (e.g., sex, age, nationality, season of the event, location of the drowning, any drug usage, background disease and the fate of victims) were collected and analyzed carefully.

Results: Among all 47 victims, 6 (12.8%) were drowned and remaining 41 (87.2%) were near–drowned. Thirty-three (70.2%) of the cases were male and children (aged 1-4 years) with the highest rate of submersion. Male drowned victims at all ages were more than the females. The nationality of 40 and 7 of the cases were Iranian and Afghani, respectively. The most common sites of submersion were ponds (72.5%), swimming pools (8.5%), streams or rivers (8.5%), wells (4.2%) and others (6.3%). The most common seasons of drowning were spring and summer each one with a rate of 27.7%. There was no history of drug consumption or background diseases in drowned or near drowned victims. Thirty-nine (83%) out of the total (47) cases, completely recovery and 8 (17%) were expired. While all the drowned children were expired, near-drowned, except for 2, were survived. Mortality was more common in children (aged 1-4) male Iranian victims for submersion accidents taking place in ponds.

Conclusion: As children (< 5 years, esp. 1-4 year age group) are among the high risk groups for drowning, these groups should be the focus of preventive programs. In addition, as a health priority, the control and prevention of accidents in children should be considered by health professionals.