First responders are alarmed by the high number of deaths that occurred last year from drowning (339 in total); And it is that the arrival of good weather brings with it these accidents that are one of the ten main causes of death among children and young people around the world, according to data from the OMS. I clarify that if we talk about deaths from 'unintentional trauma', they turn out to be the third cause of death in the age group from 1 to 14. Of the total number of minors who die from this cause, the highest rates correspond to those between 0 and 5 years old; group followed by adolescents (from 10, and especially between 15 - 19). In any case, men always outnumber women.
Today we will talk about drowning by immersion, which occurs mainly between June and August (and with a higher incidence on weekends); although it is true that in infants the most common scenario is the bathtub (we neglect ourselves more than we think). And we will also dedicate a space to remember a serious problem that, although it does not result in death (at least immediate), is very dangerous and we must pay attention to it: it is about the so-called 'secondary drownings'.
Despite the fact that most of the victims live in developing countries, there is much evidence that drowning deaths in developed countries may be being estimated 'down'. The data on which the World Health Organization is based exclude suicides, homicides, floods or shipwrecks as causes of drowning; focusing only on unintentional accidents, which are precisely the easiest to prevent.
It should be specified that in addition to the fact that there is a possibility inherent to certain ages, there are medical conditions (such as epilepsy) or related to occupation (people who work near water) that could be risky.
Let's talk about drownings
We refer to the process by which breathing difficulties are suffered due to immersion or immersion in a liquid, whose results are classified as death, morbidity and non-morbidity. It appears that 'the pathophysiological consequences of drowning are mainly due to hypoxia-ischemia, and subsequent repercussions'. And the specific causes of suffocation caused by drowning are laryngospasm, apnea or aspiration of water (due to vomiting after swallowing).
In the Annals of Continuing Pediatrics, I have found that 'contrary to popular opinion, the victim does not call for help, as most drownings are silent'; This does not mean that it cannot be detected (before the body submerges), since it is in an upright position, extends its arms laterally, hits and slaps in the water, so sometimes the situation is confused with a ' play'.
When we talk about this topic, it is always about alert and raise awareness about a serious problem with dire consequences, whose avoidance depends solely on ourselves. Surveillance / supervision until the children are adolescents, communication with the children so that they understand the need for prevention, and attend to the rules (which are to be fulfilled). By rules I understand (for example) not to bathe on the beach with a red flag, or to respect the instructions of the lifeguard (in the pool). On the other hand, I am not exaggerating if I say that every minute that children spend in the water should be watched, because 27 seconds are enough for a little one to drown.
Of course, no rule can replace common sense and the ability to protect and self-protect (in the case of children who are no longer young)
It is also not a guarantee to know how to swim, although in my opinion we must make an effort so that children learn to do it. I would like to point out here that the public regulations of any public facility with swimming pools include (and also in writing) the indication that minors under 14 must be accompanied by those over that age. I think that in life there is time for everything, and that this is one of the issues in which autonomy (and it is strange that I say it precisely) must be very limited, I do not play it, of course.
Secondary drowning
Update (12/07/17).
The pediatric outreach blog "My kingdom for a horse", speaks in a post about the so-called "dry or secondary drowning." I share part of a paragraph, and I link the original article, in which it is reported that such processes do not exist, but alarm is being created among families. I think the right thing to do is to improve the information that we gave in its day, therefore I prefer to clarify concepts and eliminate the points in which we talked about these drownings.
There is no dry drowning, secondary drowning, or near-drowning. They are not correct medical terms, although many doctors (and hobbyists) use them. They have been discarded for many years. Drowning is a process that can be mild, moderate or severe, with or without fatal consequences.
Decalogue of safety for swimming pools
I don't think I mentioned more freshwater drownings, although on the beach children also drown, but before ending the post, I share this picture of the National Association for Child Safety, with ten points easy to understand and apply, oriented to the prevention in swimming pools. It includes checking protection elements, visibility, rescue devices, and the pool environment.
And now yes, summer is about to begin, although more than one of us have already taken a dip. Fun is more fun without accidentsIt is up to all of us to decrease the rate of drownings among children.