As you know, drowning incidents are far too common and typically involve the lives of young children. Death from drowning occurs when the lungs fill up with liquid, causing suffocation. This then prevents oxygen from reaching vital organs within the body causing cerebral hypoxia and myocardial infarction.
Drowning has remained the leading cause of fatalities among children aged 12 years old and younger in many areas of the world. For example, in the United States alone, it is the second leading cause of death for children of this age (second only behind road accidents.) These incidents do not just occur in pools, lakes and other bodies of water. In fact, kids can be killed in smaller bodies of water, including bath tubs and wading pools.
Drowning rates throughout the world differ based on many factors including national swimming culture, climate and access to water. For example, in the United Kingdom there is approximately one drowning per 150,000 people or 450 each year. In contrast, the United States has 6,500 each year or approximately 1 for every 50,000 people. Victims are usually young, adolescent males.
If a child falls in the pool, how should you react? After pulling them out to safety, try to get them to couch. This will aid in their breathing. Find a warm towel to wrap the child with and hold them close to avoid them going into shock. Try to remain as calm as possible and do not react overly negatively in order to not impact the child’s future fear of swimming and water. If the child is unconscious or has no heartbeat, start CPR and call 911.
If the child seems fine, observe him for the next few days for signs of secondary drowning. This happens up to 72 hours after exposure to water. Symptoms include difficulty breathing, coughing or voice changes. Other signs are mood changes, extreme fatigue or a sudden illness. If you think your kid has inhaled a large amount of water, listen closely to his breathing. Check for gurgled or wheezing sounds that may indicate water in the lungs.
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