UAE issues 6 key tips to prevent to child drowning this summer

Abu Dhabi Civil Defence Authority (ADCDA) has identified a set of procedures to follow in the event of a child drowning on public beaches or in a home swimming pool.

ADCDA emphasized its role in educating the public about the importance of abiding by proper procedures to avoid drowning accidents and its commitment to promoting a culture of safety, particularly with respect to child safety.

The correct course of action in cases of drowning on public beaches with lifeguard services is to avoid panic, call 999, monitor the situation even after the drowning person reaches the lifebuoy and keep a close eye on the person until specialized assistance arrives, it said.

In cases of drowning on public beaches that are not covered by lifeguard services, do not panic and call the emergency number 999, it added, noting that untrained people should not enter or jump into the water to rescue drowning people.

It is preferable to use lifebuoys if available and to throw them or anything that can help the drowning person to float, while monitoring the situation until the drowning person reaches the floating device, it said.

It is also preferable to avoid unnecessary risks, contact specialized assistance immediately and perform first aid, it added.

The ADCDA pointed out that in the event of drowning in a home pool, one should not panic and call 999, stressing the importance of knowing and practicing first aid procedures for household hazards, particularly first aid in the event of drowning, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

There are basic procedures for dealing with a child drowning which include ensuring that the child is quickly and safely taken out from the pool and is placed on a flat surface on his back before starting first aid procedures after ensuring he is conscious, it said.

Efforts should be exerted to ensure that the child is breathing well by opening the child’s airway through tilting his head back and lifting his chin, it added, noting that if the child is not breathing at all or is breathing abnormally, CPR procedures should be started immediately.

To perform CPR, you have to close the child’s nose with your hand, place your mouth over the child’s mouth and gently blow twice before placing the heel of one hand or both hands (depending on the child’s size) on the middle of his chest and compress at a rate of 30 times per minute, it said.

If water is observed in the child’s airway, you should try to tilt him slightly to the side after each blow to help drain the water, it added.

Meanwhile, the National Ambulance underscored the importance of abiding by safety procedures when in the water, stressing the need to take the necessary precautions to prevent drowning accidents.

To prevent drowning, you should take six precautionary measures. These include checking the weather conditions before going to the sea, wearing a life jacket when participating in water activities, learning to swim, preferably in the presence of others, keeping an open eye on children, not entering the water when the red flag is raised and not swimming unless a lifeguard is present in the area.