Drowning – Why is this

still happening in 2022?

People can drown in water as shallow as one inch.

Unintentional drowning kills more children aged 1-4 than ANY other physical hazard.
As a parent or a caretaker, it is vital to be aware of the dangers of drowning (always
lurking behind seemingly tranquil waters) if you want to protect your loved ones.

The question is, why is drowning still a common occurrence in 2022?

People are still drowning on beaches - non-swimmers and capable swimmers alike;
news reports of parents whose negligence cost their toddlers’ lives are still making
headlines every so often. With modern advancements and better technology, we would
think that this problem would be something our ancestors would have to worry about,
not us.

But this is precisely the reason why this phenomenon is still occurring today: the public
health problem simply has not attracted enough awareness.
The Problem

Yearly, Yearly, That’s

3500 – 4000 372,000 about 40
people people deaths for
drown in drown every hour!
the US. globally.

According to the NDPA (National Drowning Prevention Alliance), an average of 3,500 -

4,000 drowning deaths occur every year in the states, excluding the unaccounted deaths
that were not officially documented or did not have drowning as a direct cause of
fatality. There are twice as many non-fatal drowning incidents; some leave the survivors
with physical and neurological impairments, scarring them for life.

According to WHO, globally, 372,000 people die from drowning annually, a massive
number considering, once again, that this is only accounting for the number of direct
drowning deaths.

The truth: drowning is preventable, but unpredictable. People have drowned swimming
in their backyard pools. Even while wearing a lifejacket (and this is very unlikely),
drowning can still occur. The waters can become dangerous: one minute they’re docile,
and the next, they’re taking away your dearest ones’ lives.

The Resolution
These facts are stated, not to scare you away from the waters or point out that swimming
is dangerous. As a matter of fact, swimming is one of the best all-around sports, as it
requires both your upper-body and lower-body muscles to work together, and helps you
to cool off during the scorching summer weather. Swimming is a safe sport; these are
the red flags you should look out for to keep this activity even safer for you and your
loved ones.

1. The water is too deep.

 As confident as one can be in their swimming skills, they will never be able to
anticipate sudden leg cramps. As they realise their movement is inhibited, panic
sets in, and when they’re that far out with no one around, it can become
excruciatingly hard to get back to shore. Though the likelihood is small, it is not
impossible. It is crucial to stay close to moderately deep waters and wear a
lifejacket when going out into the open oceans.

2. No lifeguard on duty

The presence of a lifeguard is essential for any water-related activity. They are
always the first responders to any water emergency, specialising in equipment
 and skill, able to respond to heart attacks and provide on-the-spot CPR.
Swimming without a lifeguard overwatching can be dangerous, leading to
saddening accidents that could’ve easily been preventable with basic first-aid
procedures.

Be sure to check if your local pool or beach has a professional lifeguard on watch,
and you can do so based on their equipment. All capable lifeguards are aided by
their gear.

3. Swimming in a river
Though it’s best to keep your swimming activities at the beach or in a pool, the
sensation of the refreshing river waters can become irresistible. Thus, it’s
necessary for those who participate in river swimming to know about water safety
in such a place where there is no lifeguard and reasonably isolated.

Drowning from rivers, lakes, and other natural waterways accounts for a
substantial proportion of drowning deaths. In Australia, rivers claim the largest
amount of lives in annual drowning reports (~20% of deaths). A glaring issue.
There are a few notable practices one should remember when swimming in
rivers:

 Watch out for strong currents and rapids - they can over-power even the
best swimmers.

 Always check the depth of the water and the texture of the riverbed to
avoid getting injured and scratched by plants and small rocks as you're
swimming.

 Never venture out too far. If you do, make sure you're wearing a life jacket,
as the water can become unpredictably deep.

Aside from all these precautions, knowing how to perform CPR and various other water
rescue techniques will come in handy. You might just be able to save a life. Keep
everyone around you safe from drowning, today.