Drowning primary prevention

Drowning Microchapters
Home
Patient Information
Overview
Historical Perspective
Classification
Pathophysiology
Causes
Differentiating Drowning from other Diseases
Epidemiology and Demographics
Risk Factors
Natural History, Complications and Prognosis
Diagnosis
History and Symptoms
Physical Examination
Laboratory Findings
Electrocardiogram
Chest X Ray
Other Imaging Findings
Other Diagnostic Studies
Treatment
Medical Therapy
Primary Prevention
Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy
Future or Investigational Therapies
Case Studies
Case #1
Drowning primary prevention On the Web
Most recent articles
Most cited articles
Review articles
CME Programs
Powerpoint slides
Images
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Drowning primary prevention All Images X-rays Echo & Ultrasound CT Images MRI
Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov
US National Guidelines Clearinghouse
NICE Guidance
FDA on Drowning primary prevention
CDC on Drowning primary prevention
Drowning primary prevention in the news
Blogs on Drowning primary prevention
Directions to Hospitals Treating Drowning
Risk calculators and risk factors for Drowning primary prevention

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Primary Prevention

Children have drowned in buckets and toilets

The reduction of drowning through education and basic prevention steps, has become a necessity. Training information can be found through the following organizations Star Fish Aquatics, Jeff Ellis and Associates, through the local chapter of then American Red Cross and many other local organizations.

Training Emphasises to Help Prevent Drowning

• Learn to swim
• Basic water rescue.
• Keep a watch out for others.
• Swim in areas where adequate supervision is present ie a trained and certified Lifeguard.

Common Sense Around the Water to Help Prevent Drowning

• Ensure that boats are reliable, properly loaded and that functional emergency equipment is onboard.
• Wear a properly fitting lifejacket while enjoying water sports such as sailing, surfing or canoeing.
• Pay attention to the weather, tides and water conditions, especially currents. Currents always look weaker from the outside!
• Have a locked fence around swimming pools.
• Consider cold-acclimatisation training for swimming in very cold water.

Emphasis may be Needed in these Areas to Help Prevent Drowning

• Keep children under a watchful eye
• Diving into an unknown depth and or bottom countour area
• Swimming alone
• Swimming at night
• Swimming while under the influence of drugs and or alcohol.
• Using hyperventilation to extend a breath-hold dive, see deep and shallow water blackout
• Relying on swimming aids as they may fail.
• Playing games that will put your life, or others', at risk.
• Diving into water where the bottom cannot clearly be seen or depth determined.
• Walking on ice unless it is known absolutely that the ice is thick enough over the entire route.
• Be aware of your personal limits.
• Swimming in cold water unless first, fully cold-acclimatised and experienced winter swimmer.