Proportion (%) of submersion victims for which various characteristics were reported by Washington State newspapers. Data subdivided by age and according to whether the reporting was before (1993–95) or after (1996–98) a letter that urged newspapers to report more detail about submersions
| Characteristics | 1993–95 | 1996–98 | p Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| *Comparisons regarding life vest use were limited to swimming and boating activities. | |||
| Age 0–19 years | (n=137) | (n=268) | |
| Swimming ability | 12 | 24 | 0.005 |
| Supervision | 62 | 79 | <0.001 |
| Life vest use* | 34 | 11 | <0.001 |
| Alcohol use | 3 | 47 | <0.001 |
| Age 20–93 years | (n=230) | (n=350) | |
| Swimming ability | 4 | 11 | 0.001 |
| Supervision | 97 | 98 | 0.2 |
| Life vest use* | 37 | 30 | 0.1 |
| Alcohol use | 8 | 11 | 0.3 |