Drowning Rates Are Highest In Summer

BALTIMORE, June 11, 1996 -- Each year, more than 900 teenagers drown. Although the drowning rate for teens has dropped 300 percent over the past 60 years, it remains second only to motor vehicle accidents as a leading cause of unintentional death by injury. Eighteen-year-old males have the highest drowning rate, a fact that researchers at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health attribute to a propensity among boys to engage in risky behavior.

Why do so many adolescents drown?

"Adolescents often choose to swim in remote -- and usually unsupervised -- places such as lakes, rivers, canals, and the ocean," says Gordon Smith, MO, associate professor in Health Policy and Management at the School. "Eighty-two percent of adolescent drownings occur in these places."

Remote waters can contain submerged rocks, strong undertows, and rough waters. They are also ideal places to drink alcohol without getting caught. Researchers suspect this is one reason that a reported 44 percent of boys and 33 percent of girls swim most often in remote areas without a lifeguard or other supervision.

Alcohol is a factor in about 40 percent of adolescent drownings. Drinking impairs swimming ability end judgment, and may hinder a person's ability to recover after being submerged. Alcohol my also delay laryngospasm, a protective reflex that closes the opening to the lungs to prevent water from entering.

Is knowing how to swim protection against drowning?

People who know how to swim aren't necessarily safe, says Ds. Smith. Various studies show that 15 to 45 percent of those who drown know how to swim. Swimmers' risk increases simply because they are more likely than nonswimmers to be in the water. Also, swimmers may put themselves at risk by being over-confident about their abilities and taking more chances. However, the Red Cross still recommends that anyone who is likely to play in or around the water receive water safety training that includes swimming lessons and rescue techniques.

What can a bystander do?

Get the victim out of the water as soon as possible. Victims are most likely to survive without brain damage if they are submerged for less than five minutes. "When people are submerged for more than 25 minutes, death or brain damage is almost guaranteed," says Dr. Smith. One study found that irreversible brain damage or death can occur after as few as nine minutes under water. All victims submerged for more than one minute should be hospitalized to watch for swelling of the lungs or brain.

If a victim isn't breathing, give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation immediately. This is more important than trying to expel water from the victim's lungs. Most experts agree that the Heimlich Maneuver should be used only if something is blocking the airway (many people mistakenly believe it should be done right away to rid the lungs of water).

If there's no pulse, start cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) at once. one study showed that victims under age 15 who survived near-drowning without brain damage were almost five times more likely to have received CPR from a bystander than victims who later died or had brain damage. Have someone called the paramedics while CPR is being given, and cover the victim for warmth.

Finally, if the victim vomits (50 percent do) turn him on his side so he doesn't choke.