Aim:
This study aimed to analyze and describe the epidemiology, risk factors, and prognosis of pediatric drowning and near-drowning incidents.
Materials and Methods:
Forty-four children were included in to the study. Data on social demographics, the location of drowning, clinical and laboratory results, and progress as well as outcome of patients were retrospectively investigated.
Results:
The median age of patients was 4.2±2.9 years. Most of drownings (65.9%) occurred during the summer, in swimming pools (47.7%), and mostly on weekends (70.4%). Sixteen patients (47%) were not supervised by their caregivers. None of the children had received resuscitation before arriving at the emergency department. Clinical outcomes included 10 (22.7%) deaths, 7 (15.9%) discharges with neurologic sequelae, and 27 (61.3%) successful discharges.
Conclusion:
Public education, safety regulations, lifeguards at swimming pools, restrictions on access to swimming in ponds, canals, and rivers, supervision of children, and increased awareness of this problem are necessary to reduce the rate of pediatric drowning.
Keywords: Drowning, near-drowning, prevention, children