83% of people think their child screams, struggles, yells or cries when drowning, according to research by SafetyNL. But that’s not true. That is why SafetyNL is starting a campaign about drowning.
Lack of supervision
No fewer than 78 children per year drowned in the past ten years in the Netherlands, three quarters of which were under the age of 5. Often due to a lack of supervision. A child can unexpectedly end up in the water, but an innocent inflatable pool or shallow pond can also be a dangerous place to leave a child unseen. “Then it often goes quickly”, says Ingvar Berg to RTL news† He is an emergency physician at the Haaglanden Medical Center and specializes in drowning. “Within minutes, the child drowns. You just have to figure it out as a parent.”
Silently drowning
Because young children often drown silently. “What you see in films, that people splash just as well, does not happen,” said the doctor. “A lot of young children panic and go underwater pretty quickly.” This silent drowning is sometimes not noticeable even to people who swim by. For example, there is a video of a 5-year-old boy in a swimming pool who fights for his life for five minutes, only to become unconscious. Even the many pool guests who pass him do not realize that the boy is drowning. In the end, he barely survives. That video can be viewed here† Please note: the video contains shocking images.
Keep an eye on
It is therefore important to keep an eye on your (grand) child. Always keep a child within arm’s length, have them wear a life jacket or armbands and do not look away. Ideally, go to a recreation area with a lifeguard, but don’t automatically assume that everyone is safe at that time.
Drowning among people over 60
Keep in mind that (silent) drowning is also a risk in adults. In 2020, 107 people drowned, 55 of whom were 60 years of age or older. Drowning rates among people over 60 are on the rise. Be aware of this and never lose sight of anyone during a swim.
Source: RTL news