Por David Szpilman

Prevention
Despite the emphasis on immediate treatment, the definitive therapy for drowning is prevention. Prevention remains the most powerful therapeutic intervention and can be effective in more than 85% of drownings.

• Watch children carefully, 84% of drownings occur because of bad adult supervision. The majority in or after lunch hour. 

• Begin swimming lessons from 2 years old but be very careful at this time. 

• Avoid inflatable swimming aids such as "floaties" They can give a false sense of security. 

• Use lifejacket!

• Never try to help rescue someone without able to do it. Many people died trying to do so.

• Avoid drinking alcohol and heaving lunch before swimming.

• Don't dive in shallow water - cervical spine injury could happen.

BEACHES

• Always swim in a lifeguard-supervised area.

• Ask the lifeguard for safe places to swim or play.

• Read and follow warning signs posted on the beach.

• Do not overestimate your swimming capability - 46.6% of drowning victims thought they knew how to swim.

• Swim away from piers, rocks and stakes.

• Take lost children to the nearest lifeguard tower.

• Over 80% of drowning occurs in rip currents (the rip is usually the most falsely calm deeply place between two sand bars). If caught in a rip, swim transversally to the sand bar or let it take you away without fighting and wave for help.

• If you are fishing on rocks be cautions about waves that may sweep you into the ocean.

• Keep away from marine animals.
  
  POOLS AND SIMILAR

• Over 65% of deaths occur in fresh water, even on the coast.

• Fence off your pool and include a gate. 

• Recommended fencing approved can decrease drowning by 50 a 70%.

• Avoid toys around the pool, is very attractive to children.

• Whenever infants or toddlers are in or around water, be within arm's length, providing "touch supervision".

• Turn off motor filters when using the pool.Always use portable phones in pool areas, so you are not called away to answer.

• Don't try to do hyperventilation to increase the submersion time.

• Use warning sign of shallow water on the pool.Learn CPR.

• Over 42% of pools owner are not aware about first aid techniques - Be careful!