-
Lancet (London, England) May 2017
Topics: Drowning; Humans
PubMed: 28513436
DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(17)31269-2 -
Pediatric Annals Oct 2017Drowning is a leading cause of death in children and is highly preventable. More than 10 people die of drowning in the United States each day, most of them adults. Rates...
Drowning is a leading cause of death in children and is highly preventable. More than 10 people die of drowning in the United States each day, most of them adults. Rates of drowning are highest in children given their developmental vulnerabilities. Drowning incidents that result in cardiopulmonary arrest have a straightforward emergency clinical response, but the management approaches to the more common scenario of brief, nonfatal submersion is less clear. Clinicians must make clinical-care decisions based on evidence to provide safe and effective care in a timely manner and to help families avoid unnecessary anxiety. Such anxiety has been heightened by reports of unanticipated "dry drowning" appearing in the media. This article discusses this concept and provides guidance for clinicians. [Pediatr Ann. 2017;46(10):e354-e357.].
Topics: Child; Child, Preschool; Drowning; Female; Humans; Male; Mythology; Near Drowning; Parents; Resuscitation; United States
PubMed: 29019627
DOI: 10.3928/19382359-20170925-01 -
PloS One 2021Coastal drowning is a global public health problem which requires evidence to support safety initiatives. The growing multidisciplinary body of coastal drowning research... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
Coastal drowning is a global public health problem which requires evidence to support safety initiatives. The growing multidisciplinary body of coastal drowning research and associated prevention countermeasures is diverse and has not been characterised as a whole. The objective of this scoping review was to identify key concepts, findings, evidence and research gaps in the coastal drowning literature to guide future research and inform prevention activities.
METHODS
We conducted a scoping review to identify peer reviewed studies published before May 2020 reporting either (i) fatal unintentional coastal drowning statistics from non-boating, -disaster or -occupational aetiologies; (ii) risk factors for unintentional fatal coastal drowning; or (iii) coastal drowning prevention strategies. Systematic searches were conducted in six databases, two authors independently screened studies for inclusion and one author extracted data using a standardised data charting form developed by the study team.
RESULTS
Of the 146 included studies, the majority (76.7%) were from high income countries, 87 (59.6%) reported coastal drowning deaths, 61 (41.8%) reported risk factors, and 88 (60.3%) reported prevention strategies. Populations, data sources and coastal water site terminology in the studies varied widely; as did reported risk factors, which most frequently related to demographics such as gender and age. Prevention strategies were commonly based on survey data or expert opinion and primarily focused on education, lifeguards and signage. Few studies (n = 10) evaluated coastal drowning prevention strategies.
DISCUSSION
Coastal drowning is an expansive, multidisciplinary field that demands cross-sector collaborative research. Gaps to be addressed in coastal safety research include the lack of research from lower resourced settings, unclear and inconsistent terminology and reporting, and the lack of evaluation for prevention strategies. Advancing coastal drowning science will result in a stronger evidence base from which to design and implement effective countermeasures that ultimately save lives and keep people safe.
Topics: Drowning; Humans; Risk Factors
PubMed: 33524054
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0246034 -
JPMA. the Journal of the Pakistan... May 2016Karachi Municipal Corporation's Emergency Response Center's lifeguards save drowning individuals, recover dead bodies of drowned individuals, and provide first aid care...
Karachi Municipal Corporation's Emergency Response Center's lifeguards save drowning individuals, recover dead bodies of drowned individuals, and provide first aid care to injured victims of near-drowning and road traffic accidents on the road along the various beaches.Cumulatively302 drowning and near-drowning 302 incidents were recorded from 2012 to 2014, with 291 (96.3%) incidents involving males. One hundred ninety-six (64.9%) individuals were saved from drowning, out of which 116 (59.2%) were saved on Sundays, followed by 31 (15.8%) on Saturdays; with 79 (40.3%) being saved during the hours 06:00 PM to 07:59 PM. Out of total 34 dead bodies were recovered, Sundays registered 8 (23.5%) such incidents. Out of the 72 individuals who received first-aid care, 60 (83.3%) received it on Sundays and Saturdays. The months of April, May, and June were the peak months of incidents for saving from drowning. Results augur the need for targeted health education campaigns, especially during summer months.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Child; Child, Preschool; Drowning; Female; First Aid; Humans; Male; Near Drowning; Pakistan; Time Factors; Young Adult
PubMed: 27183945
DOI: No ID Found -
The American Journal of Emergency... Jun 2021Many victims of drowning fatalities are lay-people attempting to rescue another. This review aims to identify the safest techniques and equipment (improved or purpose... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
Many victims of drowning fatalities are lay-people attempting to rescue another. This review aims to identify the safest techniques and equipment (improved or purpose made) for an untrained bystander to use when attempting a water rescue.
METHOD
A sample of 249 papers were included after the bibliographic search, in which 19 were finally selected following PRISMA methodology and 3 peer review proceeding presented at international conferences. A total of 22 documents were added to qualitative synthesis.
RESULTS
Geographical location, economic level, physical fitness, or experience may vary the profile of the lay-rescuers and how to safely perform a water rescue. Four lay-rescuers profiles were identified: 1) Children rescuing children in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), 2) Adults rescuing adults or children, 3) Lay-people with some experience and rescue training, 4) Lay-people with cultural or professional motivations. Three types of techniques used by those lay-rescuers profiles: a) non-contact techniques for rescues from land: throw and reach, b) non-contact techniques for rescue using a flotation device and, c) contact techniques for rescue into the water: swim and tow with or without fins.
CONCLUSION
The expert recommendation of the safest technique for a lay-rescuer is to attempt rescue using a pole, rope, or flotation equipment without entering the water. However, despite the recommendations of non-contact rescues from land, there is a global tendency to attempt contact rescues in the water, despite a lack of evidence on which technique, procedure or equipment contributes to a safer rescue. Training strategies for lay-people should be considered.
Topics: Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; Drowning; Humans; Rescue Work
PubMed: 33578330
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2021.01.069 -
BMC Public Health Nov 2022Drowning is a serious worldwide and preventable injury problem, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The aim of this paper is to draw on the results...
BACKGROUND
Drowning is a serious worldwide and preventable injury problem, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The aim of this paper is to draw on the results of semi-structured interviews with witnesses, family members and friends of persons involved in fatal and nonfatal drowning incidents to describe the circumstances of drowning in both lakeside and non-lakeside districts and to identify potential contextually appropriate interventions for drowning prevention and surveillance in Uganda.
METHODS
The findings presented in this study were based on data collected from study participants selected through purposive sampling comprising 324 individual face-to-face interviews with drowning witnesses, family members, friends of and survivors of drowning and ten (10) focus group discussions held with community members in 14 districts in Uganda. Data analysis was done using the Framework Analysis Approach with the aid of the Microsoft Atlas ti software (version 8) program.
RESULTS
The study results reveal a range of circumstances under which drowning occurs in Uganda, poor record keeping of drowning incidents, fear of reporting drowning incidences to the authorities, challenges in preventing drowning and proposed strategies for mitigating the problem.
CONCLUSIONS
This study found that there is no specialized record keeping system for drowning cases in Uganda and where such records are kept, the system is entirely manual (in hard copy form) with no electronic storage of data. Secondly, the drowning cases reported to police posts and stations in various parts of the country are not transmitted to the district headquarters and national database. These and other conclusions not only provide valuable insights into understanding of drowning circumstances but also the key policy and programme interventions for water-based economic activities such as fishing and public water transportation in Uganda and other LMICs.
Topics: Humans; Drowning; Uganda; Qualitative Research; Focus Groups; Water
PubMed: 36335357
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14461-6 -
International Journal of Environmental... Nov 2022Drowning is a serious public health concern. Low-and-middle-income countries are the most affected by drowning, as they carry 90% of the global drowning burden. The...
Drowning is a serious public health concern. Low-and-middle-income countries are the most affected by drowning, as they carry 90% of the global drowning burden. The purpose of this retrospective epidemiological study is to provide an overview of fatal drownings in South Africa between 2016 and 2021. The data used for the study were obtained from the South African Police Service. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data. Statistical analyses included a t-test and chi-square test. The results indicate that the average number of fatal drownings per annum is 1477 in South Africa, with an average drowning rate of 2.54 per 100,000 population for the period 2016 to 2021. The KwaZulu-Natal province had the highest incidence of drowning. The 0-4-year-age group has the highest prevalence of drowning among all the age categories. More males drowned in South Africa compared to females.
Topics: Male; Female; Humans; Drowning; South Africa; Retrospective Studies; Incidence; Police
PubMed: 36429836
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192215121 -
Frontiers in Public Health 2022The main purpose of this study was to investigate children's swimming competence in primary schools of districts in Vojvodina, Serbia.
INTRODUCTION
The main purpose of this study was to investigate children's swimming competence in primary schools of districts in Vojvodina, Serbia.
METHODS
Included subjects were primary school students from first to eighth grade ( = 2,778; male = 1,454, female = 1,324; age = 10.73 ± 2.1 years). We used Swimming Competence Questionnaire to acquire and analyze their swimming experience, non-fatal aquatic events, and demographics. For the statistical analysis, logistic regression and hierarchical multiple regression were used to evaluate if the factors and SC and NFAE were associated. The analyses were carried out by using SPSS® software version 24.0 (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, USA).
RESULTS
Families with more income and education generally have children with more swimming competence, experience, knowledge, and skills related to water safety. First step in analysis revealed that gender (β = 0.05, < 0.01), education level (β = 0.06, < 0.01) age (β = 0.171, < 0.01), and family income (β = 0.04, < 0.01) were significant swimming competence (SC) predictors (R2 = 0.04). Age (OR = 1.15, < 0.01) was the only significant predictor in Step 1 predicting non-fatal aquatic events (NFAE). In Step 2, variables associated with SC were swimming location (ΔR2 = 0.06, < 0.01), swimming experience (ΔR2 = 0.16, < 0.01), swimming accessibility (ΔR2 = 0.05, < 0.01), and learning experience (ΔR2 = 0.03, < 0.01) (total R2 = 0.26 to 0.47, < 0.01). Only a minority of participants reported that they could not swim further than 5 meters using general stroke (37.15%).
CONCLUSION
National education trainers programs must be prioritized with the primary strategy of transferring knowledge to swimming and water safety. Families with lower income must be included without exceptions. This is perhaps a key factor in preventing NFAE, increasing SC, and increasing water safety.
Topics: Child; Drowning; Educational Status; Female; Humans; Male; Surveys and Questionnaires; Swimming; Water
PubMed: 35937234
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.961342 -
Revista Espanola de Salud Publica Jun 2024Data on drownings tend to underestimate mortality from this cause. The objective of this study was to describe fatal drownings recorded in Catalonia between 2019 and... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
OBJECTIVE
Data on drownings tend to underestimate mortality from this cause. The objective of this study was to describe fatal drownings recorded in Catalonia between 2019 and 2022 through forensic sources, present their characteristics, and assess the utility of this information for monitoring drowning mortality.
METHODS
A retrospective observational study based on the register of judicial deaths from the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences of Catalonia was carried out. Data on medicolegal aetiology, aquatic environment, age, gender, date of death, and municipality of origin were analysed. Statistical analysis was based on the comparison of proportions test based on Chi-square for categorical variables and the Mann Whitney U test for the comparison of numerical variables.
RESULTS
A total of 310 drownings were recorded, with a mean age of 57.2 years and a male predominance (77.1%). The majority of drownings were unintentional (71.3%), followed by suicides (15.5%), and cases of undetermined intent (12.6%). Compared to intentional drownings, unintentional and undetermined intent drownings had a higher percentage of males than females (81.2% vs. 56%, p<0.001), and fewer cases with Spanish nationality than foreign or undetermined nationality (60% vs. 92%, p<0.001). Middle-aged and older individuals accounted for the majority of deaths, but among unintentional drownings, those recorded in pools included significantly higher percentages of children and adolescents aged zero-fourteen years than those occurring in natural waters.
CONCLUSIONS
The results highlight the importance of drowning mortality in Catalonia and the need to strengthen preventive activities, especially for children and during episodes of intense heat. Medicolegal sources are useful for monitoring drowning mortality, but it would be beneficial if they incorporated information on variables such as place of residence and nationality.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Spain; Middle Aged; Retrospective Studies; Drowning; Aged; Adult; Child; Adolescent; Child, Preschool; Young Adult; Infant; Aged, 80 and over; Infant, Newborn; Sex Distribution
PubMed: 38899691
DOI: No ID Found -
Hawai'i Journal of Health & Social... Mar 2022Causes of the extraordinarily high and increasing incidence of snorkeler drownings in Hawai'i have remained unexplained for years. Defining the mechanisms and factors...
Causes of the extraordinarily high and increasing incidence of snorkeler drownings in Hawai'i have remained unexplained for years. Defining the mechanisms and factors predisposing to drowning while snorkeling is needed to provide recommendations to substantially mitigate the incidence of this form of preventable death. The mechanisms of drowning are described and insight into the predisposing factors are explored in this study. Methods included measuring snorkel airway resistance characteristics, case reports from the State of Hawai'i Medical Examiner's office, and collating information by survey, principally from rescued survivors. This study identified 2 modes of drowning while snorkeling that need further investigation: accidental or inadvertent aspiration, and hypoxia resulting from acute negative pressure pulmonary edema. The incidence of drowning from mechanisms of hypoxia due to rapid onset pulmonary edema is an important focus of the study and a number of potentially significant predisposing factors are presented that need further investigation but provide bases that may become part of updated policies and practices for snorkelers to substantially lower the risk of death. This report is meant for both medical and public health information purposes.
Topics: Drowning; Hawaii; Humans; Hypoxia; Incidence; Pulmonary Edema
PubMed: 35261987
DOI: No ID Found