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Experts at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg warn against swimming accidents involving children in lakes, rivers or outdoor pools / Important tips for first aiders

The corona pandemic has ruined many vacation dreams. All the more reason for children and adults alike to look forward to cooling off in rivers and lakes. Unfortunately, however, serious and sometimes even fatal swimming accidents occur time and again because swimmers overestimate their abilities or behave carelessly in the water. Many children, but also more and more adults, cannot swim well enough to withstand waves or gentle currents. "After traffic accidents, drowning is the most common type of fatal accident in childhood. The swimming skills that children learn with the seahorse are far from sufficient to swim safely in open waters," warns Dr. Daniel Klotz, Senior Physician of Pediatric Intensive Care Medicine at the Department of General Pediatrics, Adolescent Medicine and Neonatology at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg.

Outdoor pools have also become increasingly popular recently, especially as many swimming pools are currently closed or being avoided. "For small children, however, even a paddling pool that is only a few centimetres full can be a danger. That's why children should only play in the water under adult supervision and should never be left out of sight, whether at home, at the lake or by the sea," says Klotz.

Silent instead of dramatic

Contrary to what is portrayed in many films, very few people scream or flap their arms just before drowning. "It's usually a rather quiet process because the person concerned has run out of strength. It can also lead to a spasm of the vocal folds when breathing in water," says Prof. Dr. Hans Fuchs, Head of Pediatric Intensive Care Medicine at the Department of General Pediatrics, Adolescent Medicine and Neonatology at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg. The emergency services should always be called in the event of drowning accidents. The following applies to children in particular: even "minor" swimming accidents should always be clarified by a doctor.

Reacting correctly after swimming accidents involving children

If a child is at risk of drowning, rescuers should be aware of possible risks and follow important rules so that they do not put themselves in danger. Time and again, rescuers at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg have to be treated because they have overextended themselves during a rescue operation.

Tips on how to behave as a rescuer if a child gets into difficulties in the water:

• Keep calm.
• Call the emergency services immediately and make other bathers aware of the situation.
• Hand the child a floating object that they can hold on to in order to rescue them. This will prevent you as the rescuer from being pushed under water if panic sets in.
• Get the child out of the water.
• Check breathing and pulse. If there are no signs of life or you are not sure, start cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
• Perform chest compressions and artificial respiration until the emergency services arrive.
• If the child is breathing adequately, wrap them in a blanket and place them in the recovery position. Continue to check breathing.
• Under no circumstances should the child be shaken or held with their legs up.

Contact:
Prof. Dr. Hans Fuchs
Head of Pediatric Intensive Care Medicine
Department of General Pediatrics, Adolescent Medicine and Neonatology
Center for Pediatrics
Uniklinik Freiburg
Phone: 0761 270-44310
hans.fuchs@uniklinik-freiburg.de