Summer is a time to relax and enjoy beaches and swimming pools. But in just 90 seconds, the time it takes to view a web page or make a call, a person can drown in front of the rest of bathers. Although movies have launched the stereotype of screaming and flailing, drowning is usually subtle and silent. In 2022 there were 394 drownings in Spain, 51% more than in 2021. Among other reasons because, due to increasingly strong and frequent heat waves, aquatic spaces register greater influx.
Many of these people die from some type of disease or previous pathology, but there are also preventable deaths caused by recklessness. The coordinator of the lifeguard group of the Spanish Society of Emergency and Emergency Medicine (SEMES), Roberto Barcala, explains what are the main errors in the aquatic field:
Risky behaviors and lack of supervision
A total of 37 of the 397 deaths by drowning in 2022 were children between 0 and 17 years, with the largest groups being 0 to 3 years and 11 to 17 (with 11 minors in each group). The deaths of the oldest are usually associated with risky activities, while those of the youngest are due to lack of supervision. According to SEMES, the majority of children under 4 years of age die in private swimming pools and during the desktop, while the parents “pick up, chat or take a nap,” according to Barcala. Given this, specialists ask that a child under 4 years of age never be allowed to bathe without supervision, even if they use floating elements. What’s more, they should always be arm’s reach of an adult.
There are also drownings of minors because many pools do not have the enclosure adequate to prevent them from entering, a problem that also affects adults when they are drunk and can fall or voluntarily get into the pool and no longer know how to get out. For this reason, SEMES advises that both private swimming pools and those of tourist businesses must have adequate enclosures. Likewise, a correct review of the facilities and drains must be carried out, which can also cause incidents.
defy the currents
Both at sea and in breakwaters or ports, there are frequent currents of such strength that they cannot be overcome by swimming. For this reason it is imprudent to bathe in places where the possible presence of currents is indicated or when there is Red flag, which is sometimes placed precisely by the currents. According to Barcala, when someone is caught in a current, the problem is that he tries to go to the shore but cannot overcome the force of the sea. “The advice is not to fight against the current and swim parallel to the shore until there comes a time when the current stops and we can get out or someone rescues us& rdquor ;.
Skip the red flag
Associated with the above, one of the most serious imprudence is bathing with a red flag. many town halls they prohibit the bathroom with this emblem but others do not and, according to emergency doctors, it should always be prevented with a red flag and sanctioned when it is not complied with. “The problem is that if there are several red flag days, people don’t want to miss their holidays and they don’t understand that It’s like a red light because his life is at stake & rdquor ;, warns the specialist.
Another of the most frequent imprudence is jumping into the sea from a pleasure boat after eating a lot alcohol. “If you drink, don’t drive, but don’t do water activities either,” warns Barcala.
try to help another
Many of those who died from drowning are people, such as fathers or mothers, who they try to save to a person who is drowning. In Australia they call it ‘dying for love’. In situations of currents or high waves, it is better to provide the person who is drowning with an element of floatation to jump into the water to try to save him. And you have to call 911 immediately.