From HealthNewsDigest.com

Safety
Death After Swimming Is Extremely Rare - And Is NOT 'Dry Drowning'
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Jul 11, 2017 - 12:52:47 PM

(HealthNewsDigest.com) - WASHINGTON
July 11, 2017 -- Several recent news stories about the tragic deaths of children using incorrect terms, such as "dry drowning," "delayed drowning," or "secondary drowning," have prompted the nation's emergency physicians to reassure parents who might be alarmed if their child develops a cough after swimming or spending time in the water.

"Parents are being unduly alarmed by media reports suggesting that children can die from drowning a week after swimming," said Rebecca Parker, MD, FACEP, president of the American College of Emergency Physicians. "Some children can experience complications from swimming.  For example, it is possible for a child to inhale water and develop an infection, such as pneumonia, which can become very serious and cause breathing problems.  If a child has breathing problems at any time, the parent should take him or her to the emergency department.  But there are no cases of completely normal, asymptomatic patients who suddenly die because they went swimming a few days ago. It's also time to retire those incorrect terms, because it is inaccurate and incorrect to say a child was initially fine after a water event and then "dry drowned" a day or week later."

There are no medically accepted conditions known as "near-drowning," "dry drowning," and "secondary drowning." The World Health Organization, the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation, the Wilderness Medical Society, the International Lifesaving Federation, the International Conference on Drowning, the American Heart Association, the American Red Cross, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) all discourage the use of these terms. These terms are often used instead of the proper term which would be drowning. Drowning is a process, with a spectrum of effects ranging from mild to severe with fatal and nonfatal outcomes.

Dr. Parker added that you should take your child to the nearest emergency department if they develop respiratory problems or other symptoms of a medical emergency at any time, for any reason.

Every day, about 10 people die from drowning, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It ranks as the fifth leading cause of unintentional injury death in the United States.

Several factors can contribute to a person drowning and obviously not all of them can be controlled. However, here are some tips for keeping children and adults as safe as possible when near or in the water.

ACEP is the national medical specialty society representing emergency medicine. ACEP is committed to advancing emergency care through continuing education, research and public education. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, ACEP has 53 chapters representing each state, as well as Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. A Government Services Chapter represents emergency physicians employed by military branches and other government agencies.

www.EmergencyCareForYou.org

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