Pool Drownings, 53% Concern Children Under 12: "The Little Ones Disappear From Sight in 20 Seconds"

" More than half of drownings in swimming pools involve children up to 12 years old . And in general, of the approximately 330 people who die on average each year for this reason, 12% are under 18 years old" . This is underlined in the second report of the Observatory for the development of a national strategy for the prevention of drownings and accidents in bathing waters .

In anticipation of the summer holidays, the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS) together with 9 Regions launches a video with advice for parents , who in many cases make mistakes in surveillance based on false beliefs. In the video a little fish called Salvo explains to parents what to do to prevent accidents .

"Establishing a correct relationship with water is fundamental for the growth of our children , and with some attention we can reduce the risks that are inevitably connected to this element - says Andrea Piccioli , director general of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità - A special thanks goes to the Regions because together with them we can increase the diffusion of this campaign and promote a more effective prevention". The report collects data from different sources, including Istat databases and a survey conducted by the ISS through the analysis of articles on drowning accidents in various national media.

"In Italy - reports the ISS - an average of about 328 people of all ages die every year from drowning. In the 5 years from 2017 to 2021 (Istat data), 1,642 people died from drowning. Of these, 12.5% ​​(or 206) were aged between 0 and 19. This equates to about 41 deaths every year involving children or adolescents, with males representing a significant 81% of all drowning deaths in pediatric age. The mortality rate is 0.4/100,000 inhabitants. Cases increase with age, although not in a linear manner (the 1-4 age group has more cases than the 5-9 age group), up to adolescents, who alone account for 53.4% ​​of all drownings from 0 to 19 years. In almost all cases, the child - who cannot swim - drowns because he escapes the attention of his parents, falls into the water or ends up, playing in the water, in deep water".

Home swimming pools have also contributed to the increase in accidents and drownings, and 53% of those drowned in swimming pools are children up to 9 years old. "Water, even when it is a puddle or a 'pond', has a fatal attraction for any child," underlines Fulvio Ferrara , who edited the report. " In inflatable pools the risk that a small child, who has just started walking, falls in is very high . A child who has fallen into the water will disappear from sight within 20 seconds."

"One of the most common causes of child drowning is lack of or inadequate adult supervision. In a study reported in the ISS report, adults admitted that while supervising their child near water, they talked to others (38%), had to supervise another child, were busy reading (18%), eating (17%) and/or talking on the phone (11%). Among parents of children aged 0 to 12, almost half (48%) incorrectly believed that they would hear noises and splashes or their child would cry if he or she was in difficulty in the water . In addition, 56% believed that a lifeguard, if present, was the primary person responsible for supervising their child, and 32% reported leaving their child completely unattended in a pool for 2 minutes or more."

Here is a series of rules and advice to limit risks in the water: " Preferably dive in supervised waters where there is qualified personnel able to intervene in an emergency; avoid diving in rough seas or near bodies of water where there are rip currents ; it is essential to be aware of sea conditions before diving; carefully observe signs and follow the instructions of supervisors. This can help identify dangerous areas and behaviors to avoid; always continuously supervise children in the water or near any body of water, especially in domestic or private swimming pools; educate children about water from an early age . Teaching them to swim and behave safely in the water can significantly reduce the risk of accidents; avoid diving into the water suddenly after eating or after prolonged exposure to the sun ; avoid diving from cliffs or in unprotected areas and be careful to dive only in water of adequate depth", concludes the ISS.