Citation

Willoughby M. Tex. Emerg. Nurs. Assoc. Newsl. 2022; 2022(Q3): 3.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, Texas Emergency Nurses Association)

DOI

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PMID

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Abstract

Drownings are preventable and unnecessary. In 2021, seventy-six children died in Texas by drowning. Drowning is the leading cause of accidental deaths in children. Most of these deaths occurred in pools. Drownings can happen in seconds. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about eleven people die each day from drowning. This means that nearly 4,000 people die every year in the United States from drowning. Most affected are children aged one to four.

When a person is immersed or submerged in water, they will experience respiratory impairment. Water will fill up in the lungs, and oxygen is not able to be delivered to the heart. The body will begin to shut down without oxygen delivery. If a person is found in time and survives a drowning, it could result in brain damage. If you find someone that may have drowned and they are unconscious, they may still be resuscitated and have a good outcome. The person may then experience what looks like a seizure, but this is called hypoxic convulsion. Their body and lips may appear blue. Prior to death, the person will experience cerebral hypoxia.

Prevention is the key to reducing the number of children that are dying due to drowning. Kids should never be around water unsupervised. Pools should be fully fenced in to decrease access to the pool. A barrier like a fence can reduce drowning by 83%. The fence should fully enclose the pool and separate the pool from the house and the rest of the yard. There are also motion ...

Language: en