St. Joseph's Healthcare System

Presenting Joseph Testa, MD, Chairman, Emergency Medicine, St. Joseph's Wayne Hospital.

It is estimated that there are 9 drowning deaths each day. In NJ between 1990 and 2005 there were greater than 800 water related deaths typically occurring between may and September. Deaths were highest amongst age groups 1-4 and 15-20. Prevention can be achieved by always swimming with a buddy, selecting sites where lifeguards are present, designate a responsible adult to supervise young children when they are around water, make sure everyone in your family learns to swim, never dive into water less than 5 feet and extend arms to protect head and neck, avoid alcohol or medications that would impair your abilities, install a 4-sided fence in home pools separating play areas from pool areas, home pools must also have self closing gates and self-latching locks that open outwards with latches out of reach of children. If swimming around natural bodies of water know the environment, check weather forecasts, apply sun block and understand the colored warning flag meanings raised by lifeguards. Watch for dangerous undertows and riptides before going in the water and know CPR should a dangerous incident occur, remove the person from the water cautiously and promptly, if diving related protect the victim's head and neck, have someone call 911 and stay with the victim until qualified help arrives.