The coordinator of the Support Vital Committee (CSV) of the AEP. Director of the Valencian Institute of Pediatrics, Dr. Ignacio Manrique, has lamented that 2024 has been the second worst year in the last decade in terms of drownings, with 422 deaths due to this cause, behind 2017 (481 deaths), and has pointed out that all drownings are preventable if there is awareness about it.
During a training session offered by the AEP, Manrique has emphasized the importance of maintaining «an arm’s length» with the child being cared for, even if they are wearing a float or armbands, as they cannot prevent the airways from being out of the water at all times; likewise, he has stated that one of the most common mistakes is using a mobile phone while taking care of the child.
He has also reminded that there is no safe amount of water, and that an infant can drown in a depth of two centimeters of water, so he has urged to «never stop supervising» the little ones when they are near bathtubs, mop buckets, toilets, inflatable or splash pools, ponds or wells, among others.
The specialist has also advised that children should jump in feet first instead of head first, to avoid possible accidents to the spine and spinal cord, as well as covering pool drains to prevent suction entrapment.
When a person is drowning, they usually do so without asking for help or screaming, as they are focused on keeping their head above water to breathe, a process that can last about 90 seconds until drowning, so he has asked that parents or caregivers be extremely vigilant, even if there are lifeguards present.
### HOW TO ACT IN CASE OF DROWNING
Before rushing to help the person, it is vital to first alert emergency services and throw a floating object to help the victim, without allowing bystanders to enter the water, as they could cause a second emergency.
Once the victim is out of the water, the doctor has debunked the myth that they should be placed face down to empty the lungs and be able to breathe, but that the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) protocol should be applied immediately, with ventilations and chest compressions.
A preliminary step before applying this protocol is to check if the person is conscious, for which pinches should be given, after which help should be requested from people nearby, open the airway and start the procedure, during which it should be checked if the victim is breathing.
The first five rescue breaths should be followed by 30 chest compressions and two more ventilations, repeating the cycle until emergency services arrive or clear signs of circulation appear; the expert has recommended taking turns every two minutes with another rescuer, if available, to avoid exhaustion.
### TRUTHS AND MYTHS ABOUT CHOKING
The session has also featured the member of the CSV-AEP and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the Gregorio Marañón General University Hospital, Dr. Gonzalo Zeballos, who has talked about the myths of choking and the steps to take when witnessing one of these cases, which are more common in children under five years old, especially when they are eating and playing at the same time.
«Celebrations are risky places due to the lack of adult supervision (…) and because they can play and jump while eating,» he added during his intervention.
However, they can also occur when they are with toys that can be put in the mouth or small foods like grapes or nuts, as well as large pieces of meat or gristle; he has also recommended cutting vegetables into very small pieces and, as far as possible, keeping them raw.
After that, he has emphasized the importance of knowing how to act according to the choking phase in which the victim finds themselves, which can change from one to another in a matter of seconds; the first phase is when they are coughing, a moment when enough space should be given to the person to expel the object by themselves, without intervening.
If they stop coughing, remain conscious and have breathing difficulties, help should be requested from 112 and those around, after which it should be checked if the object is accessible in the mouth.
When it is not accessible, inserting a finger could push it further down, so five blows should be given to the interscapular area of the back, followed by five abdominal compressions, known as the Heimlich maneuver, in those over one year old; when the child is under one year old, the procedure is the same but with chest compressions instead of abdominal ones.
These steps should be repeated until they breathe well, expel the object, or worsen and lose consciousness, at which point the aforementioned CPR maneuvers should be performed.
To avoid worsening the situation or wasting time, Zeballos has advised against blowing in the child’s face or lifting them by the feet to help the body come out. Additionally, he has emphasized the importance of seeking medical attention even if the object is expelled, to rule out possible injuries or complications.
### TRUTHS AND MYTHS ABOUT HEAT STROKES
On the other hand, the member of the CSV-AEP and the Arquitecto Tolsa Health Center (Valencia), Dr. Valero Sebastián, has stated that heatwaves are becoming more frequent due to the impact of climate change, and has asserted that they can have a greater impact on children under the age of five, as their thermoregulation is different, as well as in chronic patients.
That is why he has called for «great care» with cars and children, as a closed car can see its internal temperature increase by up to 20 degrees in less than an hour, so it could go from 39 degrees of ambient temperature to 70 degrees.
When a child suffers from a heat stroke, they may experience dizziness, vomiting, a body temperature above 40 degrees, headache, irritability, or tachycardia, and the most severe cases can lead to fainting or seizures, which is why he has drawn attention to early symptoms such as dry and very hot skin, fatigue, weakness, shallow and rapid breathing, or muscle cramps.
To prevent a heat stroke, it is important to maintain good hydration, avoid exercising in the hottest hours of the day, or wearing excessive clothing, as it should be loose and cool, to prevent excessive heat absorption.
When this happens, the victim should be placed lying on their back in the shade, in a cool and ventilated place; loosen their clothes and remove unnecessary garments; apply cold water compresses to the head, neck, face, nape, and chest; give them cold water or an isotonic drink if unconscious; call 112 and even start resuscitation maneuvers if they have lost consciousness; and transfer the child to the hospital as soon as possible for evaluation.
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