Impact of COVID-19 on drowning patterns in the Great Lakes region of North America

Houser, Chris; Vlodarchyk, Brent

doi:10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2021.105570

Cited by 14 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 29 publications

(44 reference statements)

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“…When COVID-19 disease burden is high, forbidding all aquatic activities at guarded locations to minimize rescues and resuscitations is reasonable; however, such lockdowns are not practical for extended periods. The first waves of COVID-19 showed that many people will seek out unsupervised aquatic environments, which in turn increases drowning risk . By implementing measures that limit the number of visitors, lifeguarded locations can remain open while reducing the overall risk of drowning (eTable 1 in the Supplement).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although there was an absence of guiding evidence, in some areas the number of drowned people who needed CPR seemed to increase. 27,71 First responders were unpreparedly tasked to balance their own safety, and the safety of friends and family, with their duty to save lives. Their organizations faced complex challenges of ensuring staff and volunteer welfare while maintaining operational capability.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The first waves of COVID-19 showed that many people will seek out unsupervised aquatic environments, which in turn increases drowning risk. 27 By implementing measures that limit the number of visitors, lifeguarded locations can remain open while reducing the overall risk of drowning (eTable 1 in the Supplement).…”

Section: Prevention and Mitigation Of The Risks Of Becoming Infected ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Resuscitation of Drowned Persons During the COVID-19 Pandemic

et al. 2022

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IMPORTANCE Resuscitation is a niche example of how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected society in the long term. Those trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) face the dilemma that attempting to save a life may result in their own harm. This is most of all a problem for drowning, where hypoxia is the cause of cardiac arrest and ventilation is the essential first step in reversing the situation. OBJECTIVETo develop recommendations for water rescue organizations in providing their rescuers with safe drowning resuscitation procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic. EVIDENCE REVIEW Two consecutive modified Delphi procedures involving 56 participants from 17 countries with expertise in drowning prevention research, resuscitation, and programming were performed from March 28, 2020, to March 29, 2021. In parallel, PubMed and Google Scholar were searched to identify new emerging evidence relevant to each core element, acknowledge previous studies relevant in the new context, and identify knowledge gaps. FINDINGS Seven core elements, each with their own specific recommendations, were identified in the initial consensus procedure and were grouped into 4 categories: (1) prevention and mitigation of the risks of becoming infected, (2) resuscitation of drowned persons during the COVID-19 pandemic, (3) organizational responsibilities, and (4) organizations unable to meet the recommended guidelines. The common measures of infection risk mitigation, personal protective equipment, and vaccination are the base of the recommendations. Measures to increase drowning prevention efforts reduce the root cause of the dilemma. Additional infection risk mitigation measures include screening all people entering aquatic facilities, defining criteria for futile resuscitation, and avoiding contact with drowned persons by rescuers with a high-risk profile. Ventilation techniques must balance required skill level, oxygen delivery, infection risk, and costs of equipment and training.Bag-mask ventilation with a high-efficiency particulate air filter by 2 trained rescuers is advised. Major implications for the methods, facilities, and environment of CPR training have been identified, including nonpractical skills to avoid being infected or to infect others. Most of all, the organization is responsible for informing their members about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and taking measures that maximize rescuer safety. Research is urgently needed to better understand, develop, and implement strategies to reduce infection transmission during drowning resuscitation. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCEThis consensus document provides an overview of recommendations for water rescue organizations to improve the safety of their rescuers during the COVID-19 pandemic and balances the competing interests between a potentially lifesaving intervention and risk to the rescuer. The consensus-based recommendations can also serve as an example for other volunteer organizations and altruistic laypeople who may provide resuscitation.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Prevention and Mitigation Of The Risks Of Becoming Infected ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Resuscitation of Drowned Persons During the COVID-19 Pandemic

et al. 2022

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“…Source: Bayrische Staatskanzlei (1996[21] [45]), Zwemdiplomabezit van kinderen, https://www.kennisbanksportenbewegen.nl/?file=10672&m=1644504062&action=file.download; isgeschiedenis (2022 [39]), Invoering van het schoolzwemmen [Introduction of school swimming], https://isgeschiedenis.nl/nieuws/invoeringvan-het-schoolzwemmen; kenniscentrumsportenbewegen (2022 [43]), https://www.kenniscentrumsportenbewegen.nl/; Ministère de l'Education Nationale et de la Jeunesse (2022 [22]), Le Bulletin Officiel de L'éducation Nationale, de la Jeunesse et des Sports, https://www.education.gouv.fr/bo/22/Hebdo9/MENE2129643N.htm; Nationale Raad Zwemveiligheid (2022 [42]), De Nationale Zwemdiploma's worden landelijk uitgegeven door de Nationale Raad Zwemveiligheid en bestaan uit het Zwem-ABC, de Zwemcertificaten, Nationale Snorkeldiploma's en de Zwemvaardigheidsdiploma's., https://www.nrz-nl.nl/licentie-nationale-zwemdiplomas/zwem-abc-enandere-nationale-zwemdiplomas/; Rechtsinformationssystem des Bundes (2022 [23]), Gesamte Rechtsvorschrift für Lehrplan -Bewegung und Sport AHS (Oberstufe) u. a. [Entire legal regulation for curriculum -physical activity and sport AHS (upper secondary school) and others], https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/GeltendeFassung.wxe?Abfrage=Bundesnormen&Gesetzesnummer=10009684; van der Werff and Breedveld (2013 [40]), Zwemmen in Nederland De zwemsport in al zijn facetten nader belicht [Swimming in the Netherlands: Swimming sport in all its facets in more detail], https://www.kennisbanksportenbewegen.nl/?file=2668&m=1422883202&action=file.download, Wisse, (2009 [41]), Schoolzwemmen ter discussie [School swimming under discussion], https://www.kennisbanksportenbewegen.nl/?file=8053&m=1503581866&action=file.download.…”

Section: Box 24 School-based Swimming In the Netherlandsunclassified

“…Moreover, during the pandemic outbreak, those children who would have wanted to acquire swimming skills outside of schools faced additional barriers, as public swimming schools were closed, and swimming courses did not take place. For instance, in the Netherlands, the share of 6-to 16-year-olds who did not obtain any swimming diploma increased from 6% in 2018 to 9% in 2020, while the share of children who reached the national standard for swim safety decreased from 36% to 32% during the same period (Hollander and Hoekman, 2022 [45]). Even as societies and schools re-opened, there have been multiple obstacles for children who want to catch up on the opportunities they missed during a critical age for skill development.…”

Section: Box 32 Drowning Preventionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Swimming skills around the world

2022

OECD Social, Employment and Migration Working Papers

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2  DELSA/ELSA/WD/SEM(2022)16 SWIMMING SKILLS AROUND THE WORLD Unclassified OECD Social, Employment and Migration Working Paper www.oecd.org/els/workingpapers OECD Working Papers should not be reported as representing the official views of the OECD or of its member countries. The opinions expressed and arguments employed are those of the author(s).Working Papers describe preliminary results or research in progress by the author(s) and are published to stimulate discussion on a broad range of issues on which the OECD works. Comments on Working Papers are welcomed, and may be sent to

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Safety in Coastal and Marine Tourism

Wilks¹

2021

Tourist Health, Safety and Wellbeing in the New Normal

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Impact of COVID-19 on drowning patterns in the Great Lakes region of North America

Cited by 14 publications

References 29 publications

Resuscitation of Drowned Persons During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Resuscitation of Drowned Persons During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Swimming skills around the world

Safety in Coastal and Marine Tourism

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