301.519.9237 exdirector@nesaus.org

7.28.23 – WBAL – BALTIMORE

Maryland health officials are warning about an increase in drownings and near-drownings, many of which involve children swimming while unsupervised.

Critical care pediatricians at the University of Maryland Children’s Hospital told 11 News this is an urgent public-safety issue.

AMERICAN RED CROSSDrowning prevention and facts | Water safety

“We’ve seen adolescents largely unsupervised and having grave neurologic injury as a result of that. So far this summer, (there have been) three to five (instances),” said Dr. Adrian Holloway, an assistant professor of pediatrics and the program director for the Global Health Pediatric Critical Care Fellowship in the Division of Pediatric Critical Care at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

Holloway said drownings are the third leading cause of death due to injury in the U.S. — much of it because of unsupervised swimming. He also cited inadequate security and maintenance of pools that are open to the public.

“Whether kids are breaking into pools because there aren’t lifeguards available during the daytime, or into hotel pools, or after hours and getting access to the water, often, there is a young person that overestimates their swimming ability, and the others are afraid of getting into trouble. When that child is submerged, people scatter,” Holloway said.

As a result, the response to rescue is delayed. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Black and Hispanic children are significantly more likely to drown than white children.

“There’s a complex interplay between race and racism-policy decisions, as well as disparate effects of heat and climate change in communities around Baltimore and surrounding Baltimore,” Holloway said.

Holloway said more needs to be done to teach all children about swimming, water safety and CPR.