Shocking statistics of drowning / Be careful of children’s water

July 25th is World Drowning Prevention Day, with this year’s slogan being “seconds can save a life”, aiming to increase awareness of high-risk behaviors, reduce drownings, and decrease mortality due to drowning. Arezoo Dehghani, a health expert in disasters and emergencies of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, said in an interview with Mehr reporter: Drowning is defined as the entry of water into the lungs and respiratory tract, leading to suffocation as a result of immersion in water. She announced that at least 236,000 deaths due to drowning occur in the world every year, and added: Every year, at least 236,000 deaths occur worldwide due to drowning, making it the third leading cause of accidental death, accounting for 7% of all accidental deaths. Additionally, over 90% of unintentional drowning deaths happen in low- and middle-income countries. Dehghani continued: This accident is considered the primary cause of accidental deaths among children and teenagers, and one of the top 10 causes of death in individuals aged 1 to 24. She added: The highest rates of drowning are seen in children aged 1 to 4 and children aged 5 to 9, with males being twice as likely to drown as females. She added: Drowning in fresh water, such as rivers and pools, where a large amount of water enters the lungs and stomach, is much more dangerous than swallowing salt water from the sea. Fresh water’s lower osmotic pressure causes it to be absorbed quickly by the stomach and intestinal walls, leading to a rapid increase in blood volume, resulting in red blood cell loss, electrolyte imbalances, and ultimately kidney failure. She added: Unlike fresh water, salt water does not cause severe issues due to its osmotic pressure being equal to that of blood. she added: Symptoms of drowning include abnormal floundering and struggling, coughing and vomiting, swelling from ingesting too much water, heart failure, unconsciousness, noisy breathing, shortness of breath, bruised or pale lips, face, and skin. She went on to discuss safety points and added: To prevent drowning in children, avoid leaving them unattended near bodies of water like beaches, rivers, bathtubs, ponds, and pools. Teach children to swim from a young age. Provide them with safety tips in simple language, such as staying away from canal edges, pools, and ponds. Children should use swimming safety equipment like vests, armbands, rings, and boards while swimming. She added: Avoid throwing toys into water bodies as it may lead children into danger. Recent reports show toddlers drowning in buckets of water, so it’s important to keep bathtubs and buckets empty when not in use. Enclose pool areas with fences and locked doors, and install protection around wells She added: To prevent drowning in adults, avoid alcohol, psychoactive substances, and sleeping pills before swimming. Dehghani continued: Avoid swimming at night or in the dark entering unprotected deep sea areas, swimming during storms, diving into shallow or unknown waters, and always wear a life jacket when boating or jet skiing. She added: If feeling fatigued or muscle pain while swimming, exit the water. f you see someone drowning in a strong current, do not enter the water to help. Avoid inappropriate behavior while swimming. She added: In cases of drowning, call emergency services immediately after removing the person from the water. Keep the person’s head lower than the rest of their body to clear the respiratory tract until help arrives. she emphasized : Check vital signs constantly and perform resuscitation if trained. She added: Once vital signs return, keep the person warm with a blanket or towel. she added: Avoid crowding around the drowning person to prevent neck injuries, especially in diving, water skiing, surfing, or canoeing incidents By following these guidelines, we can help prevent drowning and save lives. She added: If the person vomits during CPR, turn them quickly to avoid aspiration.