Near drowning incidents occur in several countries including Anguilla. We here in Anguilla are surrounded by water and as many of us head to the beach during the holidays, we must guard against near drowning experiences. Most near drowning incidents occur within a short distance of safety and can occur at all ages. Immediate action and first aid can prevent death.
What is near drowning?
The term “near drowning” means a person almost died from not being able to breathe under water. This can occur with adults or children. If a person has been rescued from a near-drowning situation, quick first aid and medical attention are very important. It may be possible to revive a drowning person even after a long period under water, especially if the person is young and was in very cold water.
What are some of the causes of near drowning?
There are many causes of near drowning, but sometimes the cause cannot be determined. Some common causes include the following:
• Seizures (fits) while in the water
• Drinking alcohol while swimming or in a boat
• Inability to swim or panicking while swimming
• Leaving small children unattended around bathtubs and pools
What to do if someone is drowning?
If you are trained in rescuing people, do so immediately, but only if you are absolutely sure it will not cause you any harm.
If the person’s breathing has stopped, begin rescue breathing as soon as you can. This often means starting the breathing process while still in the water.
Continue to breathe for the person every few seconds while moving him or her to dry land. Once on land, give CPR as needed.
Always use caution when moving a person who is drowning. Assume that the person may have a neck or spine injury, and avoid turning or bending his/her neck. Keep the head and neck very still during CPR and while moving the person. You can tape the head to a backboard or stretcher, or secure the neck by placing rolled towels or other objects around it.
Adhere to these additional steps:
• Give first aid for any other serious injuries.
• Keep the person calm and still. Seek medical help immediately.
• Remove any cold, wet clothes from the person and cover with something warm, if possible. This will help prevent hypothermia.
• The person may cough and have difficulty breathing once breathing restarts. Reassure the person until you get medical help.
Call 911 if you cannot rescue the drowning person without putting yourself in danger. If you are trained and able to rescue the person, do so and then call for medical help.
When someone is drowning:
• Do NOT place yourself in danger.
• Do NOT get into the water unless you are absolutely sure it is safe.
• Extend a long pole or branch to the person, or use a throw rope attached to a buoyant object, such as a life ring or lifejacket. Toss it to the person, then pull him or her to shore.
• Do NOT go into rough or turbulent water that may endanger you.
Medical attention
All near-drowning victims should be seen and examined by a doctor. Even though the person may seem okay quickly, at the scene, lung complications are common. Fluid and body chemical (electrolyte) imbalances may develop. Other traumatic injuries may be also present.
How can you prevent near drowning?
The vast majority of near drowning experiences can be prevented. The following are some things you can do to help prevent near drowning:
• Avoid drinking alcohol whenever swimming or while on a boat.
• Drowning can occur in any container of water. Do not leave any standing water (in basins, buckets, ice chests, kiddy pools, or bathtubs) in areas where a young child can get it.
• The water in common household items can be dangerous for young children. A baby can drown in just 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) of water.
• Empty buckets and other containers immediately after use. Do not leave them outside, where they might accumulate water.
• Secure the toilet seat cover with a child safety device.
• Fence all pools and spas. Secure all the doors to the outside, and install pool and door alarms.
• If your child is missing, check the pool immediately.
• Never allow children to swim alone or unsupervised regardless of their ability to swim.
• Never leave children alone for any period of time or let them leave your line of sight around any pool or body of water. Drownings have occurred when parents left “for just a minute” to answer the phone or door.
• Observe water safety rules.
• Take a water safety course.
• Teach children to swim. Most children can learn to swim at about age 5 — but know that swimming lessons would not necessarily prevent a child from drowning.
Conclusion
As we take our children and other relatives to the beach during the holidays we must be very vigilant to prevent near drowning experiences. This vigilance must, however, continue throughout the year as near drowning experiences can occur at other times of the year. Children are drawn to water and anyone can have a water-related accident, even children who know how to swim. Adults can also be involved in near drowning experiences. Immediate first aid and medical attention can help complications in near drowning victims.
Ask Your Doctor is a health education column and is not a substitute for medical advice from your physician. The reader should consult his or her physician for specific information concerning specific medical conditions. While all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that all information presented is accurate, as research and development in the medical field are ongoing, it is possible that new findings may supersede some data presented.
Dr Brett Hodge is an Obstetrician/Gynaecologist and Family Doctor who has over thirty years in clinical practice. Dr Hodge has a medical practice in The Johnson Building in The Valley (Tel: 264 4975828).
