WITH temperatures rising, it is natural that many will seek to cool off, often in the nearest source of open water. However, in the UK and Ireland, there are roughly 400 deaths a year due to drowning, particularly in summer.
Most drownings occur in inland open waters such as lakes, quarries, rivers and reservoirs. Sadly, children and young men make up the bulk of victims. It is the leading cause of accidental death between the ages of 1-4, and young men are twice as likely to die in a drowning incident compared to women. It will perhaps come as no surprise that alcohol is involved in a third of drownings, but what may shock you is that half of victims never intended to enter the water. They may have been walking by a source of water and fallen in. A number will have entered the water to help another in distress, and unfortunately some will have been pushed in. Drowning is also a method of attempting suicide.
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Contrary to popular belief, perhaps enhanced by portrayals in visual media, drowning is not a highly visible act where the victim flails their arms around in a fashion bound to alert those around. It happens silently and devastatingly quickly.
The amounts of water needed are as little as half a cup for children and not much more for an adult. You don’t need water to completely flood your lungs to drown.
Secondary drowning, or dry drowning, whereby a person escapes the water but then suffers respiratory distress, can happen from 20-30 minutes after the event to days later.
Always be vigilant to the hazards of open water. Although the surface may look calm, dangers such as sharp rocks and strong currents may lurk just beneath the surface.
Arm bands and floatation devices can never be a substitute for letting your guard down, even for a minute.
It goes without saying that you should not enter the water unless you can swim. Investing in swimming lessons is an invaluable gift.
If you do find yourself in a situation where you are struggling in the water, try to float and breathe slowly and deeply.
If you do see anyone in danger in the water, and you are outside, immediately ring 999. If you are not confident in the water, entering it may neither be in your or the casualty’s best interests.
A working knowledge of CPR will help you in the vital short time a person is rescued from the water, before trained professionals arrive.
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