Drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional death worldwide. And they are increasing due to climate change and recklessness. It is one of the most outstanding results achieved during one day within the framework of the program at the Elder Museum of Science and Technology in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. World Drowning Prevention DayBringing together international experts in the study and analysis of the subject.
The discussion was attended by Joost Bierens (Netherlands), José Palacios (Spain), David Szpilman (Brazil), Roberto Barcala (Spain), Adrián Petrini (Argentina), Luis Miguel Pascual (Spain), David Whiddon (Great Britain), Xavier. Archimbault (Monaco), Ana Catarina Queiroga (Portugal) and Sebastián Quintana (Spain).
During the meeting, participants unanimously agreed on the increase in water accidents as a result of climate change and carelessness.
“This is a phenomenon where we will put ourselves at greater risk and cause the numbers to change. It is vital to create messages that focus on and contribute to different sectors of the population. become aware of the situation“, explained Ana Catarina Queiroga, who was recently appointed representative of the World Health Organization (WHO).
creation state laws and political empowerment in education infrastructure were the main axes of the discussion. In this sense, Adrián Petrini, head of the La Matanza High Institute of Lifeguards (Argentina), Swimming Chair, together with José Palacios, President of ADEAC Blue Flag Spain, emphasized: Communication, prevention and training of professionals as key tools to prevent the continued increase in the number of victims under water.
“It’s important to intensify the training and understand that a rescuer’s tool is his own body,” Petrini added.
The key is in schools
In this sense, Roberto Barcala, Doctor of Sports Sciences and Nursing, water safety education child-young segment of the population:The key is to reach schools regularly. and to insist on the education of all social agents».
“17 people choke to death every day in Brazil. In addition to the creation of laws, it is also important to follow these regulations. “The pending problem is getting these to be adhered to,” said David Szpilman, medical director of the Brazilian Rescue Association (Sobrasa).
Brazilian researcher, real figures could reach 1.5 million people who die from this on the planet every year..
According to figures provided by WHO, About 370,000 deaths are recorded worldwide each year, “a figure that underestimates the true magnitude of this cause, because there are many variations in the scope and precision of data collection organizations.”Sebastián Quintana, the organizer of the ‘Canarias 1500 Km de Costa’ platform, drew attention to the difficulty of collecting statistical data on this issue.
“A joint strategy we get reduce the number of people under waterworks on political, educational and social aspects”, noted AETSAS research director Luis Miguel Pascual and Joost Bierens, the first professor of Emergency Medicine in the Netherlands.
The panel of experts, including the interventions of David Whiddon, RNLI’s director of international maritime rescue services, and Xavier Archimbault, director of children’s water safety education projects at the Princess Charlene Foundation of Monaco, agreed to criticize the following. No country in the world has legislation on regulating, minimizing and preventing drowning..