2023-06-05 08:00:15
When the mercury rises, there is a great desire to swim to find some freshness. But any bathing requires increased and permanent vigilance, especially when young children are in the water. Because every year we deplore nearly 1000 accidental deaths linked to drowning, a quarter of which concern children under 6 years old. Hence the importance of reminding the general public that permanent supervision of children when swimming is essential.
Bathing young children: supervision is essential
The arrival of fine weather signals the opening of the swimming season and the increased risk of drowning. It is estimated that in France, accidental drownings are responsible each year for nearly 1,000 accidental deaths, half of them during the summer period. And a quarter of these drownings concern children under 6 years old, the main cause being a lack of supervision. Most of these drownings are preventable.
Hence the importance of reminding the general public that permanent and close supervision of children when swimming is essential. In the presence of children, the following advice should be followed:
- Never lose sight of children when they are playing at the water’s edge or when they are in the water.
- Gradually enter the water.
- Bathe with them.
- Avoid strong exposure to the sun before swimming.
- Avoid risky behavior.
- Do not consume alcohol before or following swimming.
If despite these precautions, a child or a person were to drown, it will be necessary:
- Get the victim out of the water without putting yourself in danger.
- Lay victim down and cover to warm.
- Assess the vital functions (consciousness, breathing and circulation).
- Call the emergency services if the victim’s discomfort persists.
- In the event of loss of consciousness (but the victim is breathing), place them in the lateral safety position and wait for help while watching them.
- If breathing stops, perform cardiac massage until help arrives.
To know ! The emergency numbers to reach are 112 (European emergency number), 18 (call number for firefighters), 196 (number to contact the rescue services at sea). If you are sailing, use channel 16 of the VHF.
Since lifeguards are only deployed on the beaches in mid-June, the general public is called upon to be extremely vigilant when swimming.
An unprecedented drowning prevention campaign
This year, the Ministries responsible for Health and Sports are mobilizing to combat the risk of child drowning through an unprecedented prevention campaign. Launched on May 17, this campaign entitled “You care regarding them, don’t take your eyes off them! » emphasizes the importance of parental vigilance with young children when swimming. Relayed on social networks, this campaign includes a dedicated “ConsoMag” program broadcast on the France Télévisions channels, as well as 3 shock testimonials from parents who have lost a child following drowning.
Furthermore, within the framework of the organization of the next Olympic and Paralympic Games, a new epidemiological monitoring system for drownings will be put in place from this summer. Until now, surveys describing the circumstances of drownings were indeed carried out every three years. They will now be annual. The stated objective? Ensure better prevention during the summer season. From 1is June to September 30, the total number of accidental drownings as well as the number of deaths will be collected throughout the metropolitan territory and in the DROMs. Until then, parents should keep their eyes wide open!
Déborah L., Doctor of Pharmacy
Written by Charline D., Pharmacist on August 11, 2017. Updated by Déborah L., Doctor of Pharmacy on May 31, 2023.
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