chapter 19. Drowning and water sports injuries
G Morgan and GC O’Toole
DROWNING
500 people drown every day worldwide. Three times as many people go to hospital with near-drowning injuries, which can cause serious brain damage and long-term disability.
Everyone who uses water for recreational purposes and who lives near water should be taught to swim by a qualified instructor.
What do I do if I see someone drowning?
‘Personal safety first.’ You must have a good grasp on land. You must be able to swim competently yourself if attempting rescue by boat.
The rules for rescuing someone who is drowning are Reach, Throw, Row, Don’t go (Fig. 19.1).
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| Fig. 19.1 |
Safety instructions
• Never swim alone and swim near a lifeguard tower
• Check with lifeguards about conditions before swimming
• Don’t overestimate your ability
• Wear sunscreen
• Avoid alcohol
• Never run and dive into the sea. You never know how deep it is!
• If you want to swim long distances swim parallel to the shore in your depth
• If you get in trouble try not to panic. Raise your arm for help, float and wait for help to arrive
• If caught in a ‘rip’ current dragging you out to sea don’t fight it. Swim parallel to shore until free of out-rushing water. Now swim back to shore or raise your arm and signal for assistance.
• Stay calm and conserve your energy. If you become tired, float with the current and signal for help.
Hold on to the dock or boat and reach your hand, fishing pole, boat oar or whatever you have nearby to the person in trouble in the water.
Throw
If you can’t reach far enough, throw objects that will float for the person to hang on to, e.g. ideally a life preserver but plastic bottles, cushions, pieces of wood, plastic picnic containers or anything else that floats.
Row
If you’re in a boat, move the boat closer to the person in the water and call to nearby vessels for help.
Don’t go
• Stay out of the water unless trained the way lifeguards are trained to rescue injured and frightened people
• Call local emergency number, stay calm and give exact location
What should I do when back on land?
• Bystanders should call emergency services immediately
• ABC s are priority (see the ABC chapter, p. 21)
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