Why are men more likely to drown than women?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says about 80% of people who die from drowning are men. And long-term data also show that men are more likely to drown than women.

Frank Farley, lecturer in the Department of Educational Psychology Laura H. Carnell at Temple University, examined data from the Carnegie Hero Fund. Since the organization began awarding awards in 1904, many people have been awarded awards for saving people from drowning.

'Water is where you meet the most heroes,' said Farley. 'The ratio of male heroes here is 10: 1'.

Trying to help people struggling in the water is one reason men can be more likely to drown. But there are many other reasons men can put themselves in dangerous water situations, including less risk aversion.

'Men are more risk-taking,' says Linda Quan, an emergency doctor at Seattle Children's Hospital. 'They swim out of the protected area. They wear little life jackets. They can do more risky things, like jumping from above. '

Farley said the data he saw also supported this statement.

Trying to help people struggling in the water is one reason men can be more likely to drown.

"Drowning is quite a physical problem," he said. "History has shown that men have an advantage (with risk) physically."

Research shows that men think about scenarios that may have other risks for women . Therefore, they may be less aware of the danger.

They often underestimate the risk, and are a bit too confident in their underwater skills.

'They often think' Oh, I can swim. I'm a good swimmer ', while actually turning out they might not be like that , ' BS. Quan said. 'They don't care much about overestimating their capabilities and underestimating risks'.

Moreover, men often suffer from peer pressure and are more likely to drink alcohol when swimming - both of which make them more likely to encounter dangerous situations.

"Alcohol" , BS. Quan said, "Your judgment and poisoning a range of other things are very useful in swimming, such as balance."

Although it sounds like experts are too strict with men, BS. Quan said many recent studies show that men and women have different brain reactions. There is a physiological reason behind all these choices.

'Men take longer to develop risk assessment and judgment skills. These brain centers take longer to develop in men, most must reach the age of 30 '.

In all age groups, young men are most likely to drown.

But this information should not make people desperate. There are many things you can do to encourage both men and women to be safe in the water - especially the use of life jackets, something that needs to be done automatically like a seatbelt.

What can parents do to help their son be safe? They should start early with telling children things like: 'These are things you are doing and not doing. We will wear life jackets. We will learn how to swim. We will swim near the lifeguard and we will not drink ' .

Establishing clear and firm boundaries for swimming from a young age means that both boys and men will make smarter decisions instinctively.

'We need to turn it all into a part of culture so that it becomes automatic and there's not much room for discretion , ' said BS. Quan said.

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