Drowning occurs when a person is submerged in water or other liquid and breathing stops. If the airway is not cleared, the victim will die. Near drowning is when a person is in danger of drowning.
Drowning is the fourth leading cause of accidental death. Each year, over 4,000 people drown and about one-third of them are children under 14 years of age.
It takes very little water for a child to drown. In fact, as little as 2 inches of water in a bathtub, sink, or shower can kill a toddler. Toilet bowls are unsafe, too, if a small child falls into one head-first.
Adults drown under different conditions. When the weather is hot, for example, adults are tempted to cool off with alcoholic beverages while swimming and boating. This is not a good idea. Alcohol interferes with good judgment and is a major factor in adult drownings.
Causes
Leg or stomach cramps
Loss of consciousness
Playing in water too deep and too rough for
one's ability to swim
Falling in deep water such as drainage
ditches or any area that collects rain water
Not knowing how to swim
Stroke
Heart attack
Breaking through thin ice
Falling through the ice while fishing,
skating, or snowmobiling during the winter
Not wearing a life preserver
Prevention
A child could drown or get seriously injured in the seconds it takes to
answer a phone or go to the door.
To Prevent a Child from Drowning:
Never turn away from an
infant in a baby bathtub or one sitting in a bathtub "supporting ring."
Keep young children out of the bathroom
unless supervised by an adult. Put childproof handles on door knobs, if necessary.
Put up a secure fence around your swimming
pool and install self-closing and self-latching gates. Make sure the gates are always
locked.
Make sure neighbors also have high fences
with locked gates around their pools.
Consider using a cordless phone
out-of-doors so you can call for emergency help right away.
Never leave a child alone near water,
swimming pools, or any large container of water.
Teach your child to swim. Classes for
children as young as 6 months teach them how to kick so if they fall in the water, they
can break through the water surface.
Tell your children never to swim alone and
never to swim too far from shore without the company of an experienced adult swimmer.
Warn your children to always check the
depth of water before diving in. It should be at least 9 feet deep.
Do not go on untested ice.
Take cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
and water safety courses.
To Prevent an Adult from Drowning:
Learn to swim. Take classes
at your local YMCA or in adult education programs offered at city schools.
Swim in sight of a lifeguard, when
possible.
Never swim alone at the beach or in a
swimming pool. Someone should be nearby in case you suffer a leg cramp or other potential
emergency.
If you can't swim, always wear a personal
flotation device when you enter a lake or pool or ride in a boat.
Always check the depth of the water before
diving. It should be at least 9 feet deep. Never dive into an above-ground pool.
Do not use a hot tub or jaccuzi if you've
had any alcoholic drinks. You could fall asleep in the warm, relaxing water, slip under
the surface, and drown.
Take a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
and water safety course.
| Is the person unconscious, not breathing, and has no pulse? {Note: See First Aid for Drowning under Self-Care Tips below.}  |
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| Is the person not breathing, but has a pulse? {Note: See First Aid for Drowning under Self-Care Tips below.} |
|
| Does the person have blue lips and ears, and is the skin cold and
pale? {Note: See First Aid for Drowning under Self-Care Tips below.} |
|
Does the person in the water show these signs of near drowning? Waving, shouting for help Uneven swimming motions Inability to stay above water{Note: See First Aid for Near Drowning under Self-Care Tips below.} |
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| After a near drowning incident, does the person have a fever, cough, or muscle pain? |  |
First Aid for
Drowning:
(Before emergency care arrives)
Get the victim out of the water if you can do so safely. (See Neck/Spine Injuries if you suspect the victim has injured his or
her neck in a diving or other water accident.)
Monitor for breathing and
pulse. If there is no breathing and no pulse, do CPR. (See CPR.) If
there is no breathing, but there is a pulse, do rescue breathing. (See Airway and Breathing.) If
victim is breathing and has a pulse, put him or her in the recovery position (See Recovery Position.) This position keeps the airway clear and
allows swallowed water or vomit to drain.
Take cold, wet clothes off the victim and
cover him or her with something warm to prevent hypothermia.
First Aid
for Near-Drowning:
(Before emergency care arrives)
{Note: Saving a person who is in danger of
drowning carries risk. Before swimming out to someone in trouble, be sure you can handle
the situation. Many people drown in the brave effort of trying to save someone else
because they are not well trained and have not properly thought through the risks of the
situation.}
First try to reach the person with a
pole or extended hand. If you can't reach him or her, use a life preserver or rope.
If the person is further than you can reach
and you decide to enter the water, approach the person carefully and from behind. Talk to
the person, trying to calm him or her as you slowly move closer. Get the person to talk.
Ask if everything is all right and tell him or her to do as you instruct.
Grab a piece of clothing or cup one hand
under the person's chin and pull the person on his or her back to shore.
{Note: During the rescue, monitor for breathing and pulse. If there is no pulse and/or breathing do "First Aid for Drowning." See First Aid for Drowning above.}
Tell the person to extend his or her
arms away from you. Continue talking to the person to reassure him or her.
Put the victim in the recovery position.
(See Recovery Position.) This position keeps the airway clear
and allows swallowed water or vomit to drain.
Take cold, wet clothes off the victim and
cover him or her with something warm to prevent hypothermia.
{Note: All near-drowning victims should see their health care provider because lung problems are common following a near-drowning episode.}
HEALTH AT HOME - Your Complete Guide to Symptoms, Solutions, and Self-Care © 2000 by Don R. Powell. American Institute for Preventive Medicine.
Date updated 03/02/01