A quick trip to the beach or water park with friends or family never fails to give anyone an instant boost in mood. But what seems an exciting dive can suddenly go awry when muscle cramps and swimming errors happen. Drowning happens extremely fast. Rescue gears and a first aid course learned by heart are all you need to save a loved one from drowning. In this guide, you’ll learn in more detail how to prevent drowning and rescue a swimmer in distress.
Drowning: A Quick Look at the Stats
As per the World Health Association, drowning accounts for 7% of the recorded injury-related deaths globally. It’s also the 3rd leading cause of unintentional injury-related fatalities. 90% of these drowning cases are recorded at low-income and middle-income nations. Kids between 1 to 14 years old and males are at higher risk of drowning.
No, drowning isn’t a risk inexperienced swimmers and kids face. Even experts could be at risk. Aside from the lack of swimming skills, the following factors also contribute to the risks of drowning:
- Impulsiveness
- Lack of situational awareness
- Peer pressure
- Health issues
- Nature of livelihood
- Frequency of flood disasters in the area
- Alcohol or substance use
- Lack of familiarity with the swimming area
Ways to Prevent Drowning
Yes, drowning might be pretty common, but it’s also preventable. For swimmers, you can protect yourself with these tips:
- Take your swimming skills seriously. Learn basic and advanced strokes. And learn how to stay safe while in the waters. Know how to tell if there are swimming hazards, such as a riptide, water vessels, and animals.
- Take a first aid course. Aside from swimming classes, first aid classes also equip you with skills needed to anticipate, prevent, or respond to drowning accidents.
- Wear the right swimming gear and apparel. Ill-fitting swimwear could hinder your limbs’ full movement, which could cause cramps.
- Swim in pairs. Don’t allow kids and elderly people to take a dip on their own.
For swimming pool owners and those manning beaches and pools
- Make the pool deck slip-resistant. Add a concrete layer to the flooring to add texture and improve traction. Having stampings and engravings also helps.
- Have the necessary rescue equipment nearby. The essential ones you should have are reaching poles, body hook, and ring buoy.
- Set up a fence and a door around the pool area. This keeps kids away from the pool when there are no adults to watch over them.
- Install a pool cover, as well as an access and alarm system. This is an added level of security that prevents kids and adults from falling into the pool, especially into the deep end.
- Make sure that the depth levels transition smoothly, and have clear marks for the levels.
- Equip your pool with handrails and steps. These are perfect aids for people who need frequent rests when swimming.
First Aid Rescue Guide for Drowning
Drowning is a common accident. And don’t miss any opportunity to save a person. Keep these tips in mind to respond accordingly:
- Call a lifeguard. Whenever you’re at a beach or pool, make sure the lifeguard is within sight while you’re swimming. It’s also practical to take note of the rescue team’s contact number and keep your phone close with you.
- Move the drowning person from the water. Use the reaching pole or ring buoy to take the person to the shore or pole deck.
- Check the person’s breathing by pressing your ear next to his or her nose or mouth.
- Check the pulse. A healthy pulse plays around 60 to 100 beats per minute. Anything slower or faster than that could mean something is wrong.
- Perform CPR. If the swimmer has no pulse, execute CPR. However, if you’re not equipped and trained to perform CPR, it’s best to just seek or wait for expert support.
Conclusion
It’s unfortunate to see a friend, a loved one, or even a stranger lying unconscious due to a drowning accident. But you can be the hero they need. Develop your swimming and drowning rescue skills through practice. It’s also highly recommended to take a first aid course to keep yourself and other people safe.