FAMILY MEDICINE® COLUMN
By John C. Wolf, D.O.
Associate Professor of Family Medicine®
Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine

ALCOHOL, GENDER BOTH KEY FACTORS IN DROWNING RISK

Question: My family and I play on the water most of the summer. We mostly boat, ski and swim in the river. I'm always worried about someone drowning. Do you have any advice to help us minimize that risk?

Answer: Drowning is a leading cause of accidental death in the United States. Each year, about 4,000 Americans drown. The circumstances of these deaths vary considerably, but certain types of accidents occur frequently. Included in this category are the deaths of young children in backyard swimming pools, inattentive swimmers who get in the way of boats, and experienced swimmers who take in too much air by hyperventilation before attempting underwater long-distance swims.

You can reduce your family's risk of death in a water accident by encouraging each teenage and adult family member to enroll in a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) course. My medical dictionary defines resuscitation as the restoration to life of one who is apparently dead. That pretty well says why CPR is so important, and the sooner it is started, the more likely it is to restore life to a drowning victim. If you have the training, you might save a life by starting CPR before EMS personnel arrive on the scene. If you don't know basic CPR, I'd suggest you contact your local American Heart Association chapter for information about courses in your area.

Equally important, you should insist that each family member receive sufficient instruction to become a competent swimmer. This includes adults that may have missed the opportunity to master this skill when they were children. The area Red Cross can direct you to swimming lessons.

One of the biggest risks for your family may be alcohol. Thirty-eight percent of men and 11 percent of women involved in water-related accidents, including drowning, had been drinking alcoholic beverages. While the quantities they consumed were often enough to make them legally drunk, you should know that even a small quantity of alcohol slows your reflexes and mildly impairs your ability to make critical decisions. This is why I think it's foolish to have any alcohol before skiing or operating a boat because of the potentially severe consequences of an error in judgment.

People who dive into shallow water can sustain one of the more serious water-related injuries -- paralysis due to injury of the spinal cord and neck. The easiest way to prevent this tragedy is to familiarize yourself with the area you're diving in. It's a good idea to carefully go feet first into the water before your first dive. That way, you'll know the water level and you'll find out about any dangerous objects under the surface that can't be seen from the shore or from within the boat. Also, remember that the water levels in familiar lakes, streams and rivers can change from day to day and from season to season.

The best way to avoid water accidents of all types is through the use of simple common sense -- a commodity that may have a gender bias since males of all ages are about four times more likely to be victims of a drowning accident than females. I suggest that you watch young children CONSTANTLY when they are near water. Individuals of any age should not "horse around" on the bank of a stream, on a water slide, or while in a boat. Don't venture into unfamiliar water alone. Don't take chances. Never drink alcohol before going into the water or getting on a boat, and wear a personal flotation device whenever you are near the water but not swimming.

Family Medicine® is a weekly column. To submit questions, write to John C. Wolf, D.O., Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Grosvenor Hall, Athens, Ohio 45701.