“I remember a story I once heard about drowning: that when you fall into cold water, it’s not that you drown right away but that the cold disorients you and makes you think that down is up and up is down, so you may be swimming, swimming, swimming for your life in the wrong direction, all the way toward the bottom until you sink.”—Lauren Oliver
***
Traveling to another country is entertaining, pleasurable, and educational. But if you’re not careful, it might sometimes cost you your life. Consider drowning, which is listed as one of the leading causes of death for foreign visitors.
A 71-year-old Australian citizen, who was a passenger on a cruise ship that recently docked in Boracay, tragically drowned. After disembarking, he proceeded to the beach with fellow passengers and swam about 10 meters from the shore. He enjoyed himself until he realized he was struggling to stay afloat and called for assistance.
Although someone was able to reach him, he was already unconscious by the time he was brought back to the shore. He was promptly transported to a hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival. The cause of death: respiratory failure due to drowning.
Death by drowning is not exclusive to the Philippines. A mother and her ten-year-old son encountered difficulties in the waters of Horseshoe Bay Beach, a renowned tourist destination in Bermuda famous for its pink sands.
Jamie Lambros, a man from New York, was on a cruise with eleven family members when he witnessed the incident. Without hesitation, he entered the water to assist them. Tragically, while attempting to save the boy, he drowned.
While on vacation in Florida with their six kids, a couple from Pennsylvania drowned. The two perished while swimming on Hutchinson Island’s beach after becoming entangled in powerful rip currents.
The Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO) cites drowning as the third leading cause of death globally. An estimated 236,000 individuals worldwide die from drowning each year, it added.
When planning a vacation, the possibility of drowning may be far from your mind, but it poses a significant risk. Research indicates that individuals are three times more prone to drowning while traveling compared to when they are at home. Furthermore, studies reveal that drowning accounts for 25% of all accidental fatalities during travel.
An epidemiological study was done in Australia of unintentional deaths among international visitors between July 1, 2008, and June 30, 2018. A total of 2,823 drowned over the study period. Some 201 were international visitors; an average of 20 visitors fatally drowned per year.
Drowning incidents predominantly occur at beaches, but they can also take place in hotel settings. Families on holiday frequently fall victim to such accidents, particularly young children, who are often the ones who drown in swimming pools or hot tubs.
According to the United Nations health agency, males are especially at risk of drowning, with twice the overall mortality rate of females. They are more likely to be hospitalized than females for non-fatal drowning. Studies suggest that the higher drowning rates among males are due to increased exposure to water and riskier behavior, such as swimming alone, drinking alcohol before swimming alone, and boating.
Drowning itself is quick and silent, although it may be preceded by more visible distress. “People who are drowning and struggling to breathe are usually unable to call for help,” the Merck manual says. “Children who are unable to swim may become submerged in less than one minute compared with adults, who may struggle longer.”
Sometimes, drowning occurs because of another injury, a heart attack, or a stroke that causes unconsciousness. Sometimes, it can happen from a head injury caused by diving into shallow water. Cramps, too, can cause panic, which in turn may lead to drowning.
“A cry, a splash by the arms and legs, and a period of immersion when the drowning victim disappears are all the signs that a person in the water may be drowning,” wrote Dr. Stephen J. Rosenberg and Karla Dougherty, authors of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to First Aid Basics.
A word of advice: Never let a drowning person grab onto you in deep water. There’s a possibility that you will go under as well. So, if you’re out of shape, don’t even attempt to save a drowning person. Call for help instead.
“Rescue is only half the job,” says Dr. Rosenberg. “Reviving someone who has drowned or swallowed water is the other half, and it’s equally important when it comes to saving a life.”
Here’s what you need to do to save the person: First, turn the victim’s head to the side, allowing any water to drain from the person’s mouth and nose.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is considered the cornerstone of emergency medicine. On land, you strongly breathe four times into the mouth of the victim as you pinch the nose. This helps air get past any water that is clogging the breathing passageways and the lungs.
After four breaths, put your ear near the mouth and watch the chest for any breathing movement. Check the pulse for signs of life. Repeat the cycle. Once the victim has regained consciousness and breathing again, keep him still and quiet while waiting for medical help to arrive.
