Estimated reading time: 10 minutes
Swimming pool statistics can blow you away. The reason is that they reveal underestimated risks like the ability to swim or the risk of swimming pool water quality.
Especially in Florida swimming pools are an important part of a healthy lifestyle. So let’s dive into the world of swimming pools and learn about safety precautions and how to add more fun to your swimming pool lifestyle.
Swimming Pool Safety Statistics
#1 Five Basic Pool Safety Skills
(Source: Redcross)
According to the Redcross These critical water safety skills, also known as “water competency,” are the ability to:
- step or jump into the water over your head;
- return to the surface and
- float or tread water for one minute;
- turn around in a full circle and find an exit; swim 25 yards to the exit; and
- exit from the water. If in a pool, you must be able to exit without using the ladder.
#2 Men in the US have Better Swimming Skills than Women
#2A – Swimming ability by gender in the US – Redcross
(Source: Redcross)
“Men are significantly more likely than women to report that they have all five basic swimming skills (57 percent for men compared to 36 percent of women.”
#2B – Swimming ability by gender in the US – OECD
(Source: OECD)
According to OECD in 2019 more than 80 percent of all American women compared to over 90 percent of American men were able to swim.
#3 Drowning Experiences in the US – Swimming Pool Statistics
(Source: Redcross)
“Half of Americans (46 percent) report that they have had an experience in the water where they were afraid they might drown. In addition, one in five (19 percent) said they knew someone who had drowned, and 20 percent knew someone who nearly drowned.”
#4 Percentage of Drownings, by Age Group and Country Income Group
(Source: OECD)
Among OECD countries, the US have the second highest number of drowning deaths after Japan. In 2019, nearly 4000 people drowned in the United States.
# 5 Drowning Death and Economic Income
(Source: OECD)
Children between 0-14 drowning usually come from a low-income background. In contrast, older people drowning are usually from a high income background.
#6 Percent of People Taking Swimming Lessons this Summer – Swimming Pool Statistics
(Source: Redcross)
“Only 2 percent of adults plan to take swimming lessons this summer and about one in five children ages 4-17 (20 percent) are likely to take swimming lessons this summer.”
#7 Only 40 Percent of all US Kids have Sufficient Swimming Skills
(Source: Redcross)
Just four in ten parents of children ages 4-17 report that their child can perform all five basic swimming skills, yet more than nine in 10 (92 percent) say that their child is likely to participate in water activities this summer.
Swimming Pool Fun Facts
#8 Alligators in Swimming Pool in Florida – Swimming Pool Statistics
Alligators in swimming pools are common in Florida. Especially in summers with lots of rain and
#9 Most popular Swimming Pool Party in the World – Swimming Pools Fun Facts
Source: thrillist
One of the most popular swimming pool party in the world is at the Marquee Day Club Las Vegas, NV
“22,000 square feet. Just let that sink in for a second. That’s like 10 of your parents’ house, except instead of mom and dad, you’ve got a nightclub/dayclub packed to the velvet ropes with people who came to town planning to make bad decisions, wearing very little, and dancing to A-list DJs. And if the sun by the pool gets too hot (it’s Vegas, that happens), the indoor club goes all day too.”
#10 Most Popular Swimming Stroke – Swimming Pools Fun Facts
Breaststroke is the most popular swimming stroke of all.
#11 The World’s Deepest Swimming Pool – Swimming Pools Fun Facts
(source: travelandleisure)
“Deep Dive Dubai, located in Dubai’s Nad Al Sheba neighborhood, is now verified by the Guinness World Record as the world’s deepest swimming pool, at a depth of 169.9 feet (60.02 meters) and holds 14 million liters of water.”
#12 Top 3 Swimmers of All Time – Swimming Pools Fun Facts
(source: waterworksswim)
1. Mark Spitz, born 1950
“Mark Andrew Spitz (nicknamed Mark The Shark) has won seven gold medals at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games, an achievement surpassed only by Michael Phelps who won eight golds at the 2008 Olympics. Between 1968 and 1972, Spitz won nine Olympic golds plus a silver and a bronze, five Pan American golds, 31 US Amateur Athletic Union titles and eight US National Collegiate Athletic Association titles. During those years, he set 33 world records. He was named World Swimmer of the Year in 1969, 1971 and 1972.
2. Michael Phelps, born 1985
Michael Fred Phelps (nicknamed The Baltimore Bullet) has won 16 Olympic medals six gold and two bronze at Athens in 2004, and eight gold at Beijing in 2008.. He has won a total of fifty-nine medals in major international competition, fifty gold, seven silver, and two bronze spanning the Olympics, the World, and the Pan Pacific Championships.
3. Ian Thorpe, born 1982
Ian James Thorpe (nicknamed the Thorpedo and Thorpey) is a retired Australian freestyle swimmer. He has won five Olympic gold medals, the most won by any Australian, and, at the 2001 World Aquatics Championships, he became the first person to win six gold medals in one World Championship. In total, Thorpe has won eleven World Championship golds, the second-highest number of any swimmer. Thorpe was the first person to have been named Swimming World Swimmers of the Year four times.”
#13 Swimming or Bathing in Alcohol – Swimming Pools Fun Facts
(independent.co.uk)
“You would find it much harder than usual to swim and might drown in an unusually horrible way, for two reasons:
1) Distilled liquors have quite a bit lower density (and thus less buoyancy) than a swimming pool because alcohol is lighter than water. You cannot float in 80-proof [40 per cent] alcohol – even with lungs fully inflated, your body is denser than the liquor and you will sink if you stop swimming.
2) The fumes will probably cause you to choke and cough. It will be extremely difficult to get a good breath of air, and what you do inhale may cause you to get drunk to the point of passing out. Then you will pass out, inhale liquid, and die. What I don’t know is whether the asphyxiation or alcohol poisoning will kill you first.”
#14 Oldest known Public Swimming Pool in the U.S. – Swimming Pool Statistics
According to wikipedia the oldest known public swimming pool in the U.S., Underwood Pool, is located in Belmont, Massachusetts. Other sources cite the book “Contested Waters: A Social History of Swimming in America,” which says the Cabot Street Bath in Boston was the first swimming pool in the U.S. It opened in 1868 and served a neighborhood where most of the homes did not have baths.
#15 First Swimming Pool on an Ocean Liner – Swimming Pools Fun Facts
According to wikipedia RMS Adriatic was the first ocean liner to have an indoor swimming pool and a Turkish bath.
#16 More than Half of All Americans Cannot Swim Properly
(Source: redcross)
According to the Redcross more than half of all Americans (54 percent) either can’t swim or don’t have all of the basic swimming skills.
Swimming Pool Facts and Stats in the US
#17 Number of Pools in Florida – Swimming Pool Statistics
(Source: Cape Analytics)
“In October 2020, there were 1.4 million backyard swimming pools in the state of Florida—an increase of 103,547 (or 7.5%) year-over-year.”
#18 The 10 Cities with the largest number of public swimming pools per 100,000 residents in the United States in 2020
- Cleveland, OH
- Cincinnati, OH
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Aurora, CO
- Tucson, AZ
- New Orleans, LA
- Washington DC
- Philadelphia
- Denver, CO
- Henderson, NV
#19 Five Biggest Swimming Pools in the United States – Swimming Pool Statistics
(source: Usa bei numbers)
According to USA by numbers the five biggest swimming pools are:
- The Lagoon at Epperson, Florida
- Balmorhea State Park, Texas
- Hansen Dam Recreation Center, California
- Astoria Park Pool, NYC
- Glenwood Springs Pool, Colorado
#20 Three Biggest Pools in Florida – Swimming Pool Statistics
Swimming Pool Statistics – Water Quality Facts
#21 Most Common Symptoms Caused by Recreational Water Illnesses
(Source: cdc)
The most common symptoms caused by water illnesses are diarrhea, skin rashes, ear pain, cough or congestion, and eye pain.
#22 How are Recreational Water Illnesses Spread?
(Source: cdc)
“You can get recreational water illnesses if you swallow, have contact with, or breathe in mists or aerosols from water contaminated with germs. You can also get them by having contact with chemicals that are in the water or that evaporate from the water and turn into gas in the air.”
#23 Who is Most at Risk For Water Illnesses- Swimming Pool Statistics?
(Source: cbsnews, forbes)
“Children, pregnant women, and people who have health problems or take medicines that lower their body’s ability to fight germs and sickness—such as people whose immune systems are weakened because of cancer, an organ transplant, or HIV—are most at risk for recreational water illnesses.”
#24 From 2000 to 2014 There were Almost 500 Recreational Water Illness Outbreaks in the US
(Source: cdc)
The most commonly reported illnesses were:
- Acute gastrointestinal illness (such as diarrhea or vomiting)
- Skin illnesses (such as rash)
- Acute respiratory illness (such as cough or congestion)
#25 Which Germ is the Most Common Cause of Recreational Water Illness outbreaks?
Cryptosporidium is the most common germ. It can cause acute gastrointestinal illness. Crypto can even cause life-threatening symptoms in people with weakened immune systems.
Scary Swimming Pool Statistics
#26 20 – 40 Percent of U.S. Adults urinate in the Pool – Swimming Pool Statistics
(Source: cbsnews, forbes)
Depending which sources you consider as more accurate: 20-40 percent of all adults admit peeing in the pool.
The problem is that pee, like poop, sweat, dirt, skin cells, and personal care products, such as deodorant and makeup, can chemically react with the chlorine in the pool. As a result, this reaction decreases the amount of chlorine available in the pool. Furthermore, the chemical reaction generates chloramines which can irritate your eyes, skin, nose, and breathing passages and even trigger asthma.
#27 24% of US Adults Enter a swimming pool while suffering from Diarrhea.
(Source: forbes, cdc)
If someone is sick and has diarrhea in the water, germs can contaminate the water. As a result these germs can make other people sick if they swallow even a small amount of this contaminated water.
#28 51% of American Adults Report Not Showering Before Using a Communal Pool – Swimming Pool Stats
(Source: waterandhealth)
US adults use swimming as a substitute for showering or using the pool to rinse off after exercise or yard work. As a result, dirt and sweat get into the water. This is even more surprising as 64% of US adults know that pool chemicals do not eliminate the need to shower before swimming.
#29 Only 21% of US Adults Use a Pool Test Kit to Check Chlorine Levels and pH in a Public Pool – Swimming Pool Statistics
In general, swimming is a very healthy activity. But it requires healthy water. This is why adults should be encouraged to check water quality before using their home or any public pool.
#30 “During 2015–2017, Pool Chemical Injuries Led to an Estimated 13,508 U.S. Emergency Department Visits.”
(Source:cdc)
“Approximately one third of which occurred in persons aged <18 years. Most injuries occurred at a residence, and two thirds occurred during the summer swimming season.”
#31 “Each year, about 4,000 people die from drowning in the United States.” – Swimming Pool Stats
(Source: cdc)
“Approximately 50-75% of drownings occur in open water such as oceans, lakes, rivers, and
ponds. About 60% of drowning deaths among children occur in swimming pools.”
#32 Drowning Death Rates vary from State to State 2015-2019 – Swimming Pool Statistics
(Source: cdc)
Alaska has the highest death rate for drowning in the country with 4.97 deaths per 100,000 people. Followed by Hawaii 2.90, Louisiana 2.20 and Florida 2.01.
#33 Why Has Alaska the Highest Drowning Rate in the Country?- Swimming Pool Stats
(International Journal of Circumpolar Health)
“Males and Alaska Natives had elevated risks for drowning. A substantial portion of fatalities were associated with alcohol consumption. Another reason is that PFD use remains low,”
#34 “Florida has the highest drowning death rate in the nation for children under age 5.”
(source: cdc, florida department of health)
Over 60% of these drowning deaths occur in residential swimming pools every year.
#35 “More children ages 1–4 die from drowning than any other cause of death except birth defects.”
(Source: cdc)
For children ages 1–14, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death after motor vehicle crashes.
#36 Over 20 percent of nonfatal drowning injuries among those aged ≥15 years were associated with alcohol use.
(source: cdc)
Alcohol is a major risk factor when using the pool.
#37 50.2% of the ED (emergency department) patients that were hurt in swimming pools required hospitalization or transfer for further care.
(Source: cdc)
Many pool accidents lead to life threatening and very serious injuries.
A Word From healthylifestyleflorida.com
Whether you like swimming laps to get fitter or just soaking in a hot tub, getting into a pool is an amazing way to end a stressful day and relax.
You will love what you can be!
