Drowning is more common than you think and many of its victims are kids. Death from drowning is caused by suffocation when liquid enters the lungs. This prevents the lungs from bringing oxygen to the rest of the body leading to cerebral hypoxia and myocardial infarction.
Drowning remains the leading cause of death for children under 12 years old in many parts of the world. In the United States, it is the second leading cause of death for this age (with the first being road accidents.) Such drowning incidents do not just occur in large bodies of water. Kids can be harmed in small bodies of water, including wading pools and bath tubs.
The drowning rates around the world differ based on climate, national swimming culture and access to water. In the United Kingdom, approximately 450 drownings occur each year or 1 per 150,000 people. In comparison, the United States sees 6,500 every year or 1 in 50,000 of the population. The victims are typically young to adolescent males.
If a child falls in the pool, how should you react? After pulling them out to safety, try to get them to couch. This will aid in their breathing. Find a warm towel to wrap the child with and hold them close to avoid them going into shock. Try to remain as calm as possible and do not react overly negatively in order to not impact the child’s future fear of swimming and water. If the child is unconscious or has no heartbeat, start CPR and call 911.
If the child seems fine, observe him for the next few days for signs of secondary drowning. This happens up to 72 hours after exposure to water. Symptoms include difficulty breathing, coughing or voice changes. Other signs are mood changes, extreme fatigue or a sudden illness. If you think your kid has inhaled a large amount of water, listen closely to his breathing. Check for gurgled or wheezing sounds that may indicate water in the lungs.
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