This post is about drowning prevention by immersion, and it is also about reflections around safety in bathroom environments. I will deal in the past with topics that we have pointed out in other years, and I will introduce news that may help us position our role as adults in the prevention of accidents in minors.
As you know, drowning is the third cause of death due to unintentional trauma in the world (in some countries and in the age group between one and 14 they are the second cause); Y they account for seven percent of trauma-related deaths. The risk is greater in children (under five and boys from 9/10 years), as well as in people who have easy access to water.
So far nothing we do not know, if we also review documentation such as this Decalogue of Child Safety in Pools, or advice to prevent drowning or injury in the aquatic environment, we could say that we already know everything ... or not? Indeed, it is not that much more remains to be known, is that it is necessary to increase awareness, be clear about the limits to be imposed on minors, and assume our educational role. For example, a few years ago a 12-year-old girl had to be admitted to the ICU of a Girona Hospital, because during the visit with the school to a water park, she participated in a 'game' consisting of holding the maximum water under water possible time.
As a result he suffered a cardiorespiratory arrest, and if it does not become for his companions who saw that it did not leave, perhaps the lifeguard would not have taken it 'in time from the water'
I have not questioned the word 'game' because I also played that as a child, yes, in my group of friends there was never competition, nor was it encouraged to remain more than others under water ... to the slightest discomfort you came out of the water and nothing happened, and nobody bothered you for having resisted less. It seems that today, in this of risky behaviors there is a very strong component of group pressure, which makes children believe with little capacity to impose their own decision (by age) that they must follow the ideas of others 'on foot' ; and I don't say it happened like that, I wasn't present.
However I am convinced that what happened in Girona is not to blame anyone (or the girl, or her friends, or the teachers, or the parents, or the lifeguards ...), yes, we better talk with our children on what are risky behaviors, and about what friends 'have the right' to demand from us; It is also better that we make them understand that a relationship of friendship must be based on freedom, because if not, we are talking about another type of relationship. In other words, nobody is to blame but either we change our perception of risk and our relationship model, or we cannot do prevention.
Summer is coming, drowning is coming
The girl fortunately survived, but a few days before we had already witnessed the news of the drowning of a smaller boy who died, a family drama that should be a social drama. A single case should make us react, a single case that shouldn't have happened, a single case that changes life forever of brothers, parents, uncles, grandparents, friends, neighbors, partners ...
There are other ideas related to water, which from my point of view are wrong, I repeat from my point of view:
- In the pools the access of children under 14 years without adult accompaniment is prohibited; but in some pools a written parental authorization system is formally established so that younger children can access; In this way, if any unforeseen event occurs, the establishment and the City Council are exempt from liability.
You may not be of my opinion, but I don't understand what the norm is set for if we skip it laterIn addition, a lifeguard is not a caregiver of children who are not yet teenagers, nor does he have to give them advice that should come from the parents.
It also does not have the same physical strength to 'get out of air' of a choke a 10 year old boy than a 14 or 15 year old, I also believe that the pool is not a place to go alone. You know that I am in favor of children acquiring autonomy and being allowed to make certain trips alone, but not going to the pool alone, with us or the friend's father, with the uncle, with our friend ...
That our son has gone to a swimming course, does not mean that he knows how to defend himself in the water, nor that we can dedicate ourselves to sending messages instead of looking at him (this is based on a real case that I witnessed, moreover, the girl in question had to go rescue her the beach lifeguard).
Safety regulations are for respect them: Is it not necessary to bathe with a red flag? Is there no more days in the summer ?; On the other hand, if the pool sign says that it does not run along the edge it will be for something, it is not that they wanted to fill paper space, it is that in a public pool there are many people and more risk of slips, collisions ...
Water is not the natural environment of the human being, we can move in it 'like a fish in water', but we are not fish, that we do not forget, because mammals have lungs that need oxygen to perform respiratory function. In other words, we must have respect for the water, fear not, because transmitting this feeling to children is not convenient and does not allow them to progress, but respect based on common sense is.
Do we bathe at night?, well, if it is a private pool and we are all (children and adults) and outside there is good lighting, and children are clear that whenever they want to bathe they should notify (it is even better that the enclosure is fenced and closed when not is used), I don't say no, since it can be fun. I would not encourage this practice on the beach or a public pool (with the community I have some doubts).
Pool parties: sometimes to open or close the season parties are held, it would be advisable that just as parents should be careful with it, the organizers collect all the toys and flotation elements that have been used for the games; and please! Do not organize parties with inflatable castles in the water! (I have really seen it) is it that nobody has thought that children can dive under the ground who later cannot go out?
In general, we underestimate the problem of drowning by immersion
Prevent incidents, injuries and drowning
In beaches, rivers, swamps, swimming pools, you can follow these guidelines indicated by the Federation of Independent Consumers, in their latest awareness campaign. I have considered it important to include only those that did not repeat the previous recommendations.
Following the instructions of the lifeguards themselves and the beach signs, such as the flags, can also prevent fatal accidents. Green means suitable for bathing, yellow caution and red prohibition.
Swim parallel to the coast and not towards the bottom when we are on the beach, not abruptly entering the water to prevent digestion cuts and keep calm in situations of alertness are other recommendations that will transfer to bathers.
Minors should notify parents or caregivers when they go into the water and whenever they can take a bath accompanied. If children do not know how to swim they should wear a life jacket if they get in the water or they will be playing near it, a vest that is mandatory in the case of practicing some water sport.
In the case of private pools, the best security measure is the perimeter fencing of the pool, with a height of 1.2 meters high, as a way to isolate it from the house.
Bathing at night or after drinking alcohol is another unconscious since alcohol intake decreases the ability to react to the danger and if something happens, nobody could see you.
- Bathers should not jump into the water in unknown areas, with shallow depth, from a high height or where there may be obstacles such as stones.
Thus, before diving, it is necessary to check the depth of the water and avoid diving or jumping in murky waters where other swimmers and objects may not be visible. If you want to dive into the water, you must first slowly enter standing up several times, checking that the depth is at least 1.5 meters
Risks: not only drowning
They are risks whose avoidance corresponds to those responsible for the installation, but it is good to know for knowing the conditions that we can demand, the complete document can be found at the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health.
Falling risk at the same level and at a different level, due to the circulation with wet floors (wet areas) and the frequent presence and use of ramps and stairs. To eliminate or reduce it, the surfaces must be non-slip, avoid the formation of puddles and install railings in case of unevenness, ramps or stairs.
Risk of blows: to avoid this, the following actions are recommended: the color around the pool should be highlighted with that of the glass, the bottom of the pool should have color signals that make it easily visible in case of a dive. With regard to users, an internal regulation of use must be established, avoiding, for example, unsafe dives that can cause collisions between bathers; It is advisable to establish fast and slow streets as well as to prohibit games with balls or other material that may impact.
Entrapment risk: is related to water circulation and existing openings or impellers.
To avoid this, protection systems and grilles with a light diameter of not more than 8 mm must be installed, while the suction pressure on the drain surface must not exceed 3 m.c.a
Electric risk. Electrocutions: the electrical equipment must be selected according to the characteristics of the premises and the electrical installation must comply with the Low Voltage Electrotechnical Regulation (RD 842/2002) as a whole and, especially, in those instructions that refer to the characteristics specific to the environment of the pools.
Risk by biological agents: biological pollution in a pool is directly related to three parameters; the level of free chlorine in the water, the conditions of use of the pool, the state of health and the hygienic level of the users.
Pollution control should be based on the first two parameters.
Now is a good time to recover all these reflections that I propose in the first part of the post, and to act accordingly, because summer stops being fun if our children are exposed to avoidable accidents.
Images | AnneCN, Javi, Guian Bolisay, Beny Shlevich More information | Safety in the aquatic environment by the National Social Security Association, In Peques and More | A review of drowning prevention strategies, Inflatable floats are not safe, what other options do we have ?, Characteristics that community swimming pools must have for everyone to enjoy them
