Unintentional Drownings in Pediatric Populations: Injury Prevention in the Post-COVID-19 Era

Banihani, Shamieh; Waldrop, Ian; Singh, Manpreet K.; Vukcevich, Olivia; Sheets, Nicholas; Plurad, David

doi:10.7759/cureus.38264

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…There are gender-specific biases in adolescents’ self-evaluation of their swimming abilities with boys overestimating and girls being more realistic 11 . This is also corroborated when nonfatal drownings were studied 1 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 57%

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Craniofacial Injuries in Swimming and Water Sports: Implications for Prevention

Mangal,

Desai,

Treger

et al. 2024

Journal of Craniofacial Surgery

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Introduction: Water-related recreational activities, including swimming and diving, are widespread. However, they carry a significant risk of craniofacial injuries. Despite the popularity of these activities, comprehensive data on injuries beyond drowning remain scant. This study addresses this gap by providing valuable epidemiological insight into the nature, prevalence, and demographic patterns of craniofacial injuries related to water sports activities. Methods: The authors queried the NEISS database for craniofacial injuries related to swimming, diving, and water sports from 2013 to 2022. Data were analyzed for demographics, anatomic locations of injuries, and the activities leading to these injuries. Results: Between 2013 and 2022, a total of 952,111 craniofacial injuries were associated with swimming and water sports. Of these, 510,706 (53.6%) were male patients, and 441,405 (46.4%) were female. This indicates that males were 1.16 times more likely to sustain such injuries. The age groups most affected were 0 to 9 and 10 to 19 years. Anatomic locations impacted were as follows: ears (58.1%), head (16.8%), face (13.9%), neck (4.8%), eyeballs (4.4%), and mouth (2%). Leading causes were identified as swimming and water sports activities (66.5%), swimming pools and equipment (28.2%), diving or diving boards (4.7%), and scuba diving (0.5%). Notably, 89.2% of patients with diving-related injuries and 99.1% with swimming-related injuries were not admitted to the hospital. Conclusions: This study offers critical epidemiological data to supplement targeted prevention strategies and resource allocation in managing craniofacial injuries associated with water activities. The findings highlight the urgent need for specialized care and serve as a foundation for future preventive initiatives.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 57%

“…Injuries that occur in aquatic environments like swimming pools are a significant cause of mortality and morbidity in the United States 1 . Water sports are one of the most common recreational activities in the United States especially in the summer months 2 .…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Craniofacial Injuries in Swimming and Water Sports: Implications for Prevention

Mangal,

Desai,

Treger

et al. 2024

Journal of Craniofacial Surgery

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National trends in pediatric drowning — insights from the Israeli Ministry of Health registry-based cohort

Applbaum,

Cohen-Cymberknoh,

Avniel-Aran

et al. 2024

Eur J Pediatr

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This study analyzes the epidemiology of pediatric drowning in Israel from 2010 to 2022, focusing on differences across age groups, sex, and regions. We conducted a retrospective cohort study using data from the Ministry of Health’s administrative databases, covering all children aged 0–17 years who were seen in the emergency department, discharged after hospitalization, or died at the scene due to drowning, excluding cases of intentional harm or suicide. The primary outcome was the annual drowning rate per 100,000 children, categorized by age, sex, and region, along with hospitalization duration, intensive care unit admissions, and mortality rates. A total of 2101 drowning incidents were identified, with 9% resulting in death. Higher drowning rates were found in younger children (1–4 years) and teenagers (15–17 years), with notable differences by sex. Drowning rates were higher in coastal regions and more frequent during winter and spring. An increase in drowning rates was observed over the last 3 years of the study (2020–2022). Children hospitalized for more than 3 days had significantly higher mortality rates, both in general wards and intensive care units.Conclusions: Pediatric drowning is a persistent public health concern in Israel, with distinct seasonal, regional, age-specific, and sex-specific patterns in incidence and mortality. This study underscores the need for a comprehensive prevention strategy that includes year-round public education, environmental safety measures, and targeted interventions for high-risk groups to reduce drowning incidents and fatalities among children effectively. What is Known:• Pediatric drowning represents a significant public health challenge globally, with varying rates.• In Israel, pediatric drowning is the second leading cause of death from all injury-related deaths. Thus far, the measures and interventions to reduce fatalities were not proven effective enough. What is New:• Pediatric drowning in Israel, with a 9% mortality rate, revealed a biphasic rate varied by sex and is higher in coastal regions and during winter and spring.• There was a notable increase in drowning incidents during the last 3 years of the study period (2020–2022), coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Unintentional Drownings in Pediatric Populations: Injury Prevention in the Post-COVID-19 Era

Cited by 2 publications

References 15 publications

Craniofacial Injuries in Swimming and Water Sports: Implications for Prevention

Craniofacial Injuries in Swimming and Water Sports: Implications for Prevention

National trends in pediatric drowning — insights from the Israeli Ministry of Health registry-based cohort

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