Many of us reflect on the warm days of summer and enjoying the lakes as well as the pools of the region. Swimming can be an enjoyable activity for many. It has the potential to be a low-impact, healthy aerobic activity for improving cardiovascular fitness, resulting in greater endurance.

It’s a great activity that almost all can participate in year-round. Sadly, the activity of swimming is not an inherent skill. Immersion in water without the ability to swim, float or breathe may result in drowning. Non-fatal drowning may lead to long-term complications, and drowning at its worst leads to fatalities.

As a physician, I have encountered drowning victims in practice throughout the country. These victims have been of all genders and races. Of significance, the majority of victims were of color and children.

As swimming pools gained popularity in the 20th century, people of color were denied access. A report from the USA swimming foundation in 2017 stated that 64 percent of African American children had little or no swimming ability.

Studies have shown that age, gender and race play major roles in the risk of drowning. Almost half of all drowning victims must be hospitalized. Drowning is also the third-leading cause of accidental fatalities and seven percent of all injury-related deaths in the world. Annually that equates to a little over a quarter of a million people.

Proximity to water sources is a major risk factor for drowning. Here in Minnesota, the land of 10,000 lakes, there are abundant open water sources. These include lakes, rivers, ditches, ponds, irrigation channels or pools. Water depth does not have to be “deep” for one to drown. The shock of cold water immersion, even in shallow water, can lead to inhalation of water into one’s lungs and subsequent drowning.

If a victim survives drowning, serious medical conditions still may result after the non-fatal event. These conditions can include:

Acute respiratory distress
Pneumonia
Neurological injury (brain damage, stroke, paralysis)
Fluid and electrolyte imbalance (may lead to cardiac issues)

Presently within the U.S., 11 people die a day from drowning while 22 people a day non-fatally drown. Young children are at the greatest risk of drowning. For the age group of one to four years, drowning is the leading cause of death, while at five to 14 years it is the second-leading cause.

It’s also been noted that Native Americans and other people of color are at the greatest risk for drowning. Most drownings occur in swimming pools, and for people of color those tend to be public pools versus residential pools

Why does this happen?

Inability to swim
Panic in water due to inexperience
Medical events near or in water (seizure, stroke, heart attack, etc)
Impaired function (due to alcohol consumption, medications, or illicit substances)

What can we do?

All need to be constantly vigilant around water, but particularly when infants and children are present. Try to familiarize oneself with life rings or life ropes in order to save a conscious individual who may be immersed and panicking.

Only enter the water for rescue when a victim is unconscious or if you have proper rescue training. This training will include knowledge of basic CPR.

Some additional knowledge as relates to drowning includes taking precautions for possible cervical spine (neck) injury while conducting CPR in an unconscious drowning victim. The goal is to keep the victim’s neck in a neutral and supported position to prevent further injury.

Also consider turning the victim’s head to the side to allow liquid to exit the airway. Liquid in the airway will prevent gas exchange and the delivery of oxygen to the victim. If a cold water immersion has occurred, one may have to treat hypothermia by applying blankets, and removing cold wet clothing.

Lastly, if you don’t have the ability to swim, please LEARN TO SWIM TODAY!! The skill of swimming may save someone’s life, possibly your own.

Some resources for lessons include the Red Cross, YMCA/YWCA, or swim groups founded by people of color. The last two groups below try to provide greater access for people of color, but all are welcome. Many of these entities also offer CPR training.

www.redcross.org/take-a-class/swimming/swim-lessons
www.ymcanorth.org/swimming/swim_lessons
www.blackpeoplewillswim.com
miracleswimming.com/people-of-color-and-swimming