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 “Parents are being unduly alarmed by media reports
suggesting that children can die from drowning a week after
swimming,” said Rebecca Parker, MD, FACEP, president of the American
College of Emergency Physicians. “Some children can experience
complications from swimming. For example, it is possible for a child
to inhale water and develop an infection, such as pneumonia, which
can become very serious and cause breathing problems. If a child has
breathing problems at any time, the parent should take him or her to
the emergency department. But there are no cases of completely
normal, asymptomatic patients who suddenly die because they went
swimming a few days ago. It’s also time to retire those incorrect
terms, because it is inaccurate and incorrect to say a child was
initially fine after a water event and then “dry drowned” a day or
week later.”
There are no medically accepted conditions known as “near-drowning,”
“dry drowning,” and “secondary drowning.” The World Health
Organization, the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation,
the Wilderness Medical Society, the International Lifesaving
Federation, the International Conference on Drowning, the American
Heart Association, the American Red Cross, and the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) all discourage the use of these
terms. These terms are often used instead of the proper term which
would be drowning. Drowning is a process, with a spectrum of effects
ranging from mild to severe with fatal and nonfatal outcomes.
Every day, about 10 people die from drowning, according to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It ranks as the
fifth leading cause of unintentional injury death in the United
States.
Several factors can contribute to a person drowning and obviously
not all of them can be controlled. However, here are some tips for
keeping children and adults as safe as possible when near or in the
water.
Supervise Young Children — They must be watched at all times
when near water. It can involve very little water and take only a
matter of seconds for a child to accidentally drown when an adult
turns away.
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Learn to Swim — Formal swimming lessons can help prevent
all people, but especially young children, from drowning.
Learn CPR — It can take paramedics several minutes to arrive. Having CPR
skills can mean the difference between life and death or permanent brain damage.
Use the “Buddy System” — Always swim with a buddy, and only swim in areas
that have lifeguards on duty, if possible.
Avoid Alcohol — Drinking alcohol while on a boat or
swimming in the water can severely impair a person’s judgment. Never consume
alcohol while supervising children around water.
Use Life Jackets — When on a boat, make sure the number of (Coast
Guard-approved) life jackets matches the number of passengers and that they are
easily accessible. Young children should have a life jacket on at all times when
on a boat or in the water. According to the CDC, potentially half of all boating
deaths might be prevented by the use of life jackets.
Do not Use Air-Filled or Foam Toys As Safety Devices — These toys are not
substitutes for life jackets and are not designed to keep swimmers safe.
Know Weather Conditions — If strong winds or heavy thunderstorms and
lightning are rolling in, get out of the water and seek shelter immediately.
Be Aware of Waves and Rip Currents — If on the beach, watch for dangerous
waves and rip currents. If caught in a rip current, swim parallel to shore. Once
free of the current, swim toward the shore.
ACEP is the national medical specialty society representing emergency medicine.
ACEP is committed to advancing emergency care through continuing education,
research and public education. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, ACEP has 53
chapters representing each state, as well as Puerto Rico and the District of
Columbia. A Government Services Chapter represents emergency physicians employed
by military branches and other government agencies.
[American College of Emergency
Physicians] |
