|
| |
Drowning and other water related injuries are something that
many people take an "It won't affect me" stance about. The following facts
come from several reputable sources and illustrate the seriousness of aquatic
safety.
 | Drowning is silent. The instinctive drowning response closes off a
victim's airway and they cannot yell or call for help. This prevents
water from entering the lungs, but it prevents air from entering the lungs as
well. Because of this, "dry drowning" often occurs where no water is aspirated
and the victim simply suffocates (Nowak 2005.) |
| In 2001, 859 children ages 0 to 14 years died from drowning (Center
for Disease Control 2003). While drowning rates have slowly
declined (Branche 1999,) drowning remains the second-leading cause of
injury-related death for children ages 1 to 14 years (Center
for Disease Control 2003.) |
| Panic often perpetuates a distressed or drowning victim. Somebody
who is a mediocre swimmer can easily be overcome by the panic of a cramp,
seaweed, fish, cold water, deep water, fatigue, etc (Nowak 2005.) |
| In 2000, there were 3,281 unintentional drownings in the United States,
averaging nine people per day. This does not include drownings in
boating-related incidents (Center for Disease Control 2003.) |
| For every child who drowns, three receive emergency department
care for non-fatal submersion injuries. More than 40% of these children
require hospitalization (Center for Disease Control 2003.)
Nonfatal incidents can cause brain damage that result in long-term
disabilities ranging from memory problems and learning disabilities to the
permanent loss of basic functioning (i.e. permanent vegetative state.) |
| 19% of drowning deaths involving children occur in public pools with
certified lifeguards present (Drowning Prevention Foundation.) |
| Among children ages 1 to 4 years, most drownings occur in residential
swimming pools (Brenner et al. 2001.) Most young children who drowned in pools
were last seen in the home, had been out of sight less than five minutes, and
were in the care of one or both parents at the time (Present 1987.) |
| A swimming pool is 14 times more likely than a motor vehicle to be
involved in the death of a child age 4 and under (Orange County California
Fire Authority.) |
| Of all preschoolers who drown, 70 percent are in the care of one or both
parents at the time of the drowning and 75 percent are missing from sight for
five minutes or less (Orange County California Fire Authority.) |
| Boating carries risks for injury. In 2002, the U.S. Coast Guard received
reports for 5,705 boating incidents; 4,062 participants were reported injured
and 750 killed in boating incidents. Most boating fatalities from 2002 (70%)
were caused by drowning and the remainder were due to trauma, hypothermia,
carbon monoxide poisoning, or other causes. Open motor boats were involved in
41% of all reported incidents, and personal watercraft were involved in
another 28% (United States Coast Guard 2002.) |
| Many drowning victims never intended to go in the water in the first
place. This can occur from slipping on a pool deck or falling out of a boat
(Nowak 2005.) |
References
Branche CM. What is happening with drowning rates in the
United States? In: Fletemeyer JR and Freas SJ, editors. Drowning: New
perspectives on intervention and prevention. Florida: CRC Press LLC; 1999.
Brenner RA, Trumble AC, Smith GS, Kessler EP, Overpeck MD. Where children drown,
United States, 1995. Pediatrics 2001;108(1):85–9.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Web-based Injury Statistics Query
and Reporting System (WISQARS) [Online]. (2003). National Center for Injury
Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (producer).
[cited 2003 Dec 31]. Available from URL:
www.cdc.gov/ncipc/wisqars.
Drowning Prevention Foundation
Nowak, F.M. (American Red Cross ER Certified and Open Water
Lifeguard; United Sates Lifesaving Association Member.)
Orange County California Fire Authority
Present P. Child drowning study. A report on the epidemiology of drowning in
residential pools to children under age five. Washington (DC): Consumer Product
Safety Commission (US); 1987.
U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security (US). Boating Statistics
[online]. 2002. [cited 2004 Feb 24]. Available from URL:
http://www.uscgboating.org/statistics/accident_stats.htm.
|
