Page 17 - Summer 2024 Bulletin

Physician Family Alliance
Drowning & Water Safety: Terminology and Tips
Chris Restrepo, MD, Pediatric Emergency Medicine chrisretrepo@gmail.com
Livia Restrepo, MSN, RN, CPEN
Alliance Co-President hcmaphysicianfamilyalliance@gmail.com
As we gear up for another sum- mer here in Florida, we look forward to time with family and friends near the water. It’s one of the perks of living here – beaches, pools, lakes, and rivers are an integral part of our landscape. But the plentiful water is also a hazard. Florida life pres- ents a heightened risk of drowning incidents, especially for children. Drowning is the leading cause of
death among children aged 1-4 in our state. This sobering statistic un- derscores the necessity for proactive measures to prevent such tragedies.
As medical families, it’s crucial for us to champion water safety and to dispel myths surrounding drowning.
Let’s talk terminology:
In the media and medical com- munity alike, major sources of confusion are terms like “dry drowning,” “near drowning,” and “secondary drowning”. The concept of “dry drowning” has gained traction, fueled by so- cial media and anecdotal accounts. We’ve both fielded plenty of phone calls from well-educated and well-meaning friends voicing concern over “dry drowning.” You may have too. How- ever, from a clinical standpoint, drowning involves respiratory compromise due to water aspiration – there’s nothing “dry” about it. While symptoms such as persistent coughing or dys- pnea post-submersion warrant prompt medical attention, the exaggerated portrayal of “dry drowning” lacks scientific basis
and often leads to undue alarm.
Use of these terms persists, despite the fact that in 2002, the World Congress on Drowning established a comprehensive definition for drowning “the process of experiencing respira- tory impairment from submersion/immersion in liquid.”
Drowning can have one of three possible outcomes: 1) no morbidity, 2) morbidity, or 3) mortality.
In addition, the World Congress on Drowning called for the discontinuation of modifying language such as “near,” “wet,” “dry,” “secondary,” “active,” “passive,” or “silent.”
Here’s what you should know:
• Any submersion or immersion incident without evi- dence of respiratory impairment should be considered a “water rescue” and not a drowning.
• Most medical literature includes loss of consciousness while submerged as a criterion for drowning.
• If the person is rescued at any time, the process of drowning is interrupted, which is termed a “nonfatal drowning.”
• If the person dies at any time as a result of drowning, this is termed a “fatal drowning.”
As advocates for health and safety, it is crucial for us to ad- vocate for precision in terminology that aligns with the evi- dence. By dispelling myths and embracing standardized defi- nitions and terms, we can enhance our approach to preventing the tragedy of drowning in our communities. So, the next time you overhear inaccurate terminology or field a question about dry drowning, take it as a teachable moment to clear confu- sion.
As medical families, it is also our responsibility to promote water safety by role modeling and teaching drowning preven- tion practices.
Water Safety
Here are some essential water safety tips to consider as we approach the summer season:
1.
Supervision: Always designate an undistracted, sober adult to supervise children around water. It’s helpful for them to wear or hold something designating them as the supervisor-on-duty and take turns to prevent fa- tigue. Drowning incidents often occur when there are lots of adults present, but everyone assumes someone else is watching. Hosting a pool party? Hire a lifeguard if you can.
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HCMA BULLETIN, Vol 70, No. 1 – Summer 2024
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