Drowning & BoatingRAVEN BOWERS, CASEY KOERTGE, TARYN MOORE

What is drowning?

To die through submersion in and inhalation of water

Drowning involves the lungs filling with a liquid (usually water) which stops the body's intake of oxygen and ultimately can lead to death in a relatively short time.

Types of Drowning

Active Drowning

Unable to hold their mouth above water and are suffocating due to lack of air

Ex: calling for help but getting pulled under

Passive Drowning

Suddenly sink or have sunk due to a change in their circumstances

Ex: drown in an accident, loss consciousness

Wear It! Campaign

Boating Fatalities 1999-2011

Wear It! Campaign

Wear It! Campaign

BoatSafe.com

Most people who die in aquatic accidents - boating/swimming - succumb to drowning

Most drownings occur 10 feet or less from safety, and roughly 60 percent of the time another person is both witnessing and in a position to rescue the victim.

Unfortunately, would-be rescuers are not aware of the classic signs of drowning.

To the uninitiated a drowning person's surface struggle may appear to be playing, clowning or splashing accompanied by lack of requests for help.

World Health Organization

Males are more at risk for drowning.

Males mortality rates for drowning are twice as much as a females chance of dying through drowning

Males are also more likely to be hospitalized for non-fatal drownings.

Studies suggest that higher drowning rates among males are due to increased exposure to water, and riskier behavior such as swimming alone, drinking alcohol before swimming, and going boating alone

Center for Disease Control

In 2009, 3,358 people were injured and 736 died in boating incidents. Of those who drowned, 9 out of 10 were not wearing life jackets

Drowning is the fifth leading cause of unintentional injury death for all ages

Factors controlling drowning risks: Lack of swimming ability

Alcohol use

Failure to wear life jackets

Center for Disease Control

Among Blacks, drowning rates increase through childhood and peak at 15 to 19 years of age.

Drowning rates among Whites are higher than Blacks and Hispanics between ages zero and 4 years of age, and then decrease from 5 to 14, and peak between ages 15 to 24 years.

Among Hispanics, drowning rates increase substantially at 15 to 19 years, and peak between the ages of 20 and 24 years.

Survey Results

20 participants

17 do not wear life jackets when boating

6 use alcohol while boating

5 use other types of drugs while boating

13 do not know how to perform CPR

17 do not receive boating safety instructions when boating

Only 4 consider themselves a good enough swimmer to save someone drowning

Only 4 take swimming and boating safety seriously

Boating and Drowning Safety Training"AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION IS WORTH A LIFE. "

Objectives

ABC’s of CPR

Better understanding of boating instructions

Types of personal flotation devices

How to wear a life jacket properly

What do you know about drowning?

True or False: If someone falls overboard, the first thing you should do is jump in right away to assist them.

What do you know about drowning?

True or False: If someone falls overboard, the first thing you should do is jump in right away to assist them.

False

Jumping overboard to rescue someone should only be used as a last resort. Safe boating requires that the first thing you do is to REACH for the person, using either your arm or something nearby that they can grab onto.

What do you know about drowning?

True or False: If a boat is overturned or swamped, abandon the boat and use your Lifejacket for flotation.

What do you know about drowning?

True or False: If a boat is overturned or swamped, abandon the boat and use your Lifejacket for flotation.

False

 If a boat is overturned or swamped, but not sinking, you can still use it to support your body and save energy. Removing as much of your body from the water as possible can also help prevent hypothermia.

What do you know about drowning?

True or False: It’s okay if others drink when onboard, as long as there is one responsible safe boater onboard to safely handle the watercraft.

What do you know about drowning?

True or False: It’s okay if others drink when onboard, as long as there is one responsible safe boater onboard to safely handle the watercraft.

False

 Over half of all boating-related drowning incidents involve the use of alcohol, and many times the injured person is not the skipper or designated safe boater. Practice safe boating at all times by restricting use of alcohol to everyone on board- not just a few people.

What do you know about drowning?

True or False: Boats that are 16 feet and over must also carry one USCG-approved throw able Lifejacket (Type IV).

What do you know about drowning?

True or False: Boats that are 16 feet and over must also carry one USCG-approved throw able Lifejacket (Type IV).

True Additionally, Federal safe boating requirements maintain that all

watercraft must contain at least one USCG (United States Coast Guard) approved, wearable Lifejacket (Types I-III)for every person onboard, but it’s good to have a few extras on hand as well.

CPR

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

When properly performed, CPR simulates from 20 to 40% of normal circulation.

That is not enough to sustain life indefinitely, but will be sufficient to put off the start of cell death in the hope that revival tools arrive soon. 

Your job is to keep oxygenated blood flowing until life support services arrive. 

ABC’s of CPR

Airways - Tilt the head back gently to open up the airways.

Breathing - Look, listen and feel to see if the victim is breathing. Check for 10 seconds. If the victim is not breathing, proceed in administering two slow mouth-to-mouth rescue breaths.

Circulation - Check for a pulse for ten seconds. If their is no pulse, proceed to full chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth rescue breaths. Continue the cycle of 30 chest compressions and 2 breaths until help arrives.

http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/abcs-cpr-save-life-60-seconds

Boating Safety Courses

No matter how much experience you have, it’s always a good idea for everyone to review boating safety rules before departures.

Illinois only requires boaters ages 12-17 to have an Illinois Boating Education Certificate if they want to operate the boat.

Official boating safety courses and online tests for your boat license. http://www.boat-ed.com/illinois/

Boating Safety Tips

Be Weather Wise

Always check local weather conditions before departure- TV and radio forecasts can be a good source of information.

If you notice darkening clouds, volatile and rough changing winds, or sudden drops in temperature, play it safe by getting off the water.

Follow a Pre-Departure Checklist

Proper boating safety means being prepared for any possibility on the water.

PFD’s, sound producing devices, lights, fuel, batteries, distress signals, fire extinguishers, tools, and spares.

Boating Safety Tips

Use Common Sense

This means operating at a safe speed at all times, especially in crowded areas.

Be alert at all times, and be respectful of buoys and other navigational aids, all of which have been placed there for one reason only- to ensure your own boating safety.

Designate an Assistant Skipper

Make sure more than only one person on board is familiar with all aspects of your boat’s handling, operations, and other boating safety tips.

It’s important to make sure someone else can follow the proper boating safety rules to get everyone else back to shore.

Boating Safety Tips

Avoid Alcohol

The probability of being involved in a boating accident doubles when alcohol is involved, and studies have also shown that the affect of alcohol is exacerbated by external effects such as sun and wind.

Make Proper Use of PFD’s

The majority of drowning victims are the result of boating accidents were found not to be wearing a personal flotation device.

Make sure that your family and friends aren’t part of this statistic by assigning and fitting each member of your onboard team with a lifejacket-prior to departure.

Types of PFD’s

Type I, Off-Shore Life Jacket

provides the most buoyancy

effective for all waters, especially open, rough or remote waters where rescue may be delayed

Designed to turn most unconscious wearers in the water to a face-up position

The adult size provides at least 22 pounds buoyancy, the child size provides at least 11 pounds of buoyancy.

Types of PFD’s

Type II, Near-Shore Buoyancy Vest

intended for calm, inland water where there is a good chance for a quick rescue

The turning action is not as pronounced and it will not turn as many persons to a face-up position under the same conditions as the Type I

 An adult size provides at least 15 1/2 pounds of buoyancy, a medium child provides 11.

Infant and small child sizes each provide at least 7 pounds buoyancy

Types of PFD’s

Type III, Floatation Aid

good for calm, inland water, or where there is a good chance of a quick rescue

designed so wearers can place themselves in a face-up position in the water

has the same minimum buoyancy as a Type II PFD

 Float coats, fishing vest, and vests designed with features suitable for various sports activities are some examples 

Types of PFD’s

Type IV, Throw able Device

intended for calm, inland water with heavy boat traffic, where help is always present

designed to be thrown to a person in the water and grasped and held by the user until rescued, not to be worn

Buoyant cushions, ring buoys, and horseshoe buoys are some examples

Types of PFD’s

Type V, Special Use Device

intended for specific activities and may be carried instead of another PFD only if used according to the approval condition on the label

Some Type V devices provide significant hypothermia protection

Some examples are deck suits, work vests, board sailing vests and Hybrid PFDs

Check for Proper Fit

Lift the shoulders of the life jacket

Make sure it does not slip above the chin or ears

It should feel snug yet comfortable

A properly fitted life jacket keeps your head and shoulders above water

You should be able to swim with it on as well

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqBAsQIQf6Y

Hypothermia

Defense against hypothermia is to avoid exposure to the cold.

Do this by staying dry and avoiding the wind.

If you FALL into the water, DO NOT DISCARD CLOTHING; it will help trap the heat.

Avoid moving as much as possible.

A life jacket helps in two ways: it reduces the need to move, and it helps institute against heat loss.

When you wear a life jacket, draw knees up into a H.E.L.P. (Heat Escape Lessening Position/Posture)

If several persons are in the water, huddle together so you can conserve heat and stay alive.

Hypothermia Activity

Get into groups of 2-3

Put the steps of treating a victim with hypothermia in order from 1-7

What are the 7 steps to treating a victim with hypothermia? Step 1: Be aware of conditions likely to lead to

hypothermia

The following types of people are especially prone to hypothermia:

Anyone who has fallen into cold water

The elderly, especially those with inadequate food, shelter or clothing

Infants (e.g., if they sleep in a cold room)

Those who are exposed to the cold for extended durations: hunters, hikers, the homeless, etc.

Alcohol and drug users

What are the 7 steps to treating a victim with hypothermia?

Step 2: Know the symptoms of hypothermia

Hypothermia onset usually begins with shivering and continues with other mental and physical symptoms. If you see someone who may have been exposed to the cold showing these symptoms, take action immediately:

Shivering (Note that in severe hypothermia, shivering will cease)

Exhaustion

Slurred speech, memory loss

Confusion

Drowsiness

Infants: Bright red and cold skin, very low energy

What are the 7 steps to treating a victim with hypothermia?

Step 3: Get the victim into a warm room, shelter, or a vehicle

Preventing further heat loss is critical.

Keep the victim protected from cold ground (put a dry, thick barrier between them and any cold surface) and shield from cold and wind (use your own body as a shield if necessary).

 Make sure that anything you use that touches the victim is dry.

What are the 7 steps to treating a victim with hypothermia?

Step 4: Remove any wet clothing the victim is wearing

Wet clothing (and any wet blankets) will continue lowering the victim's body temperature as the water evaporates.

If the person is unconscious or it's taking too long to remove the clothing, cut it off.

What are the 7 steps to treating a victim with hypothermia?

Step 5: Take the person's temperature

If it is below 95°F (35°C), the situation is an emergency — get medical attention immediately!

What are the 7 steps to treating a victim with hypothermia?

Step 6: Warm the victim

Hypothermia victims will need help to regain body temperature. However, don't rub or massage the victim; doing so can increase risks of cardiovascular problems.

Use the following techniques:

Warm the center of the body, do not attempt to warm the arms and legs

Have them drink warm non-alcoholic drinks such as hot chocolate. A snack such as trail mix will help give them energy to create warmth.

After body temperature has increased, keep the person dry and wrapped in a warm blanket, including the head and neck.

What are the 7 steps to treating a victim with hypothermia?

Step 7: Monitor the victim and await medical attention

Be alert for potential breathing or cardiovascular problems.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eT2saM1dFU

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