SAFE BATHING

Drowning in the sea can be caused by various factors that can be prevented by improving the safety of bathing. The majority of drowning deaths across the world are more frequent among children and elderly people. Unfortunately this phenomenon is recurrent over the years, but it can be reduced by avoiding inappropriate behaviour or environmental conditions that may increase the chances of drowning.

The behavioral factors that promote drowning

• Swimming after heavy meals and high intake of alcohol;
• Lack of children supervision. In many cases even a few seconds of distraction and a few inches of water are fatal;
• Lack of swimming skills;
• Disregarding a swimming ban;
• Not using life jackets during recreational activities in the water;
• Alteration of consciousness due to: stroke; TIA, epilepsy; dysfunctions of the cardiovascular system such as arrhythmias and alterations of the blood pressure, depression, dementia, dizziness and motion disabilities.

Environmental factors that increase the risk of drowning

• Adverse sea conditions;
• Failure to signal and demark sea areas where bathing is prohibited;
• Lack of security structures near coasts close to bathing areas;
• Delays in rescue operations.