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Sports and recreation

Swimming

Estimated acute risk associated with recreational swimming.

Base risk estimate

0.006 micromorts per hours

Population-level estimate. Not a personal prediction.

Assumptions

Assumes recreational swimming for an average adult.

Limitations

Risk varies by swimming ability, open water vs pool, supervision, alcohol use, and conditions. Per-hour exposure data is not routinely published, making this estimate highly uncertain.

Source notes

Placeholder value for development only. CDC MMWR Vital Signs 2024 ('Drowning Death Rates, Self-Reported Swimming Skill, Swimming Lesson Participation, and Recreational Water Exposure — United States, 2019–2023', mm7320e1) provides drowning fatality counts and self-reported water exposure data. The CDC acknowledges that population-based drowning rates do not account for individual water exposure, and per-hour rates are not directly calculable from published national surveillance data.

Last reviewed

6/10/2026

RiskLens is an educational tool. It uses population-level estimates to help explain relative risk. It is not a prediction of your personal risk and should not be used as medical, legal, financial, or safety advice.