Understanding Trends in Pediatric Drowning Injuries in North Carolina

This study is limited by the fortunate rarity of pediatric drowning events. Injuries may be underreported because these are only ED presentations. This study relied on provider documentation in electronic health records. The definition of postpandemic is not well defined, and sequelae of the COVID-19 pandemic may not yet be fully appreciated. The incidence of North Carolina ED encounters for drowning injury in the pediatric population has decreased, and the COVID-19 pandemic had a noticeable, although not statistically significant, effect.