The weather has warmed up considerably in July. Citizens who are fed up with the hot and humid weather have taken to the sea and pools to cool off. Düzce University Medical Faculty Hospital Deputy Chief Physician and Emergency Medicine Department Faculty Member Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Cihat Demir drew attention to the increasing number of drowning cases in the summer months and shared remarkable information about the precautions to be taken.
Making statements about what needs to be done to avoid sad events during the summer months when people flock to the sparkling waters of pools, lakes and seas, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Cihat Demir said, “Drowning usually occurs quickly and is mostly silent. Individuals struggling wildly in the water during drowning are rare. In most cases, the classic scenario is a motionless individual swimming in the water quickly disappearing below the surface.”
DROWNING IS MOST COMMON AMONG YOUNG CHILDREN AND YOUNG MEN
Underlining that drowning is a significant public health problem, especially in children, Mehmet Cihat Demir said, “Drowning is most common among young children and young men. It is the leading cause of unintentional injury deaths in children aged 1-4, and the second leading cause in children aged 5-14. Pediatric drowning often occurs in home swimming pools, bathtubs or buckets. In infants, the cause is usually accidental. Most infant deaths occur within 5 minutes of the end of supervision.
“Older children tend to drown in swimming pools. Often the pool gate or fence is open and the child jumps in. Adults often drown in lakes, rivers and the sea. Most adult drownings involve an associated injury, such as diving into shallow water and hitting a rock. Alcohol use is common among older drowning victims. Seizures and pre-existing heart disease also increase the risk of drowning,” he said.
Drawing attention to the fact that drowning is completely preventable with appropriate precautions, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Demir listed the risk factors for drowning as “head trauma, seizure, cardiac arrhythmia, hypoglycemia, hypothermia, alcohol and drug use, suicide, panic attack, myocardial infarction, depression, bad decision, scuba diving, natural disaster.”
THINGS TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT TO PREVENT DROWNING
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Demir, who emphasized that the most important step in preventing drowning accidents and raising people’s awareness is awareness studies, said, “I believe that there is no segment of society in our country that is unaware of this issue. These studies are carried out very meticulously. Awareness is created with announcements, news, warning boards, visual, auditory, communication channels, and constant warnings in public transportation. Now that we are aware, we can talk about what is incumbent on us.