A water emergency at a pool or the ocean is often characterized in movies or television by loud and frenzied disruption, but experts say drowning is often too quick and quiet and may be too late for a witness.
“Certainly, you can see people who are distressed who are yelling, screaming and flailing their arms, but in a majority of cases, it goes completely unnoticed,” said Dr. Michael Boniface, a consultant in emergency medicine with Mayo Clinic Florida. “This is why drowning is such a catastrophic event, especially in children.”
In many drowning cases of children, the preventable cause is insufficient supervision, Boniface told AccuWeather. He suggests parents or guardians who remain extremely vigilant in the same way as a lifeguard, with cell phones and books away and without the influence of alcohol.
Boniface also suggests access to swimming and starting swim lessons at a young age. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends swimming lessons, starting with children as young as 1 year old. By 4 years of age, the AAP suggests that many children are capable of learning basic water survival skills and specific swim strokes.
Why it’s not taken a large volume is the water of the water to have a supermajority, ”Boniface Side.
Security of False sense
Children may also rely on consumer flotation devices, such as noodles, loungers, rafts or water wings, for example, while in a pool or the ocean.
But these products may give parents and guardians a false sense of security and may not prevent drowning events, according to Boniface. The AAP says these swimming aids are not a substitute for the U.S. Coast Guard-approved life vests.
Pool vs. ocean
The difference between a pool and the ocean, according to Tom Gill, spokesperson for the United States Lifesaving Association, is that once someone goes underwater, water clarity in the sea may make it impossible for a person to find a full line of rescuers.
“A screaming victim usually means they can stay on top of the water and they just scared that rip current is a shore away from them,” said Gill. “Children, non-swimmers, or anyone with a medical condition can slip under water without notice.”
A bystander who wants to help a swimmer in distress must first make sure a lifeguard is aware
Focus on First Aid
He suggests that all swimmers learn CPR and basic first aid. The American Heart Association does not have a minimum age requirement for learning CPR, but studies show that children as young as 9 years old can learn the technique.
“A victim is removed from the water because of the drowning needs of the airway management and the breathing response to the rescue,” Gill said. “If [the person is] in full cardiac arrest, CPR protocols are appropriate.”
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Accu Weather