Drowning & Boating
RAVEN 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 USCGapproved 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 USCGapproved 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
Poll Everywhere Review

http://www.polleverywhere.com/my/polls