How and where Poles are drowning? Lifeguard: you can drown anytime and anywhere

The heat over Poland made us go to the water in crowds. And unfortunately there are sad effects of this. 19 people drowned last weekend, the most – nine – on Sunday. Where are we in the greatest danger? The statistics of Poles drowning may surprise.

1. 19 people died in the water during the last weekend. 38 people have drowned since the beginning of June
2. Data from previous years show that drowning most often occurred in unguarded, but not forbidden places
3. The lifeguard reminds you that you cannot feel safe in any water – you can drown yourself anytime and anywhere; especially in hot weather
4. Bravado, inattention and alcohol are invariably mentioned among the most common causes of drowning
5. More current information can be found on the Onet homepage.

38 drownings since the beginning of June. 19 last weekend

Last weekend, the thermometers reached up to 35 lines. No wonder that, thirsty for refreshment, we went to the seaside, rivers and lakes. Today, unfortunately, we know the sad consequences of such a choice. During these three hot days, water took 19 lives. Four people drowned on Friday, six on Saturday, nine on Sunday. Since April 1, the Police Headquarters have recorded 100 deaths as a result of drowning. In June alone – 38.

During the weekend (including Friday), drownings occurred in Wierzbica, Warka (Mazowieckie Voivodeship), Krosnowice (Dolnośląskie Voivodeship), Cybowo and Gwda Wielka (Zachodniopomorskie Voivodeship), Smołdzino, Łeba (Pomorskie Voivodeship), and Strękowizna. (Podlaskie Voivodeship), Grudziądz (Kujawsko-Pomorskie Voivodeship), Samołęż (Greater Poland Voivodeship), Pieniężno, Dobre Miasto and Wilimy (Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship), Lubsko, Krosno Odrzańskie (Lubuskie Voivodeship), Januszkowice (Voivodeship Opolskie), Tychy (Śląskie Voivodeship), Białka (Lubelskie Voivodeship), Wojków (Podkarpackie Voivodeship).

These places do not give a picture of where the risk of drowning is greatest. Imagination gives us an endless sea and foaming waves, statistics from previous years show a slightly different picture.

How Poles are sinking? Places, Circumstances, Lifeguard Warning

Let’s take a look at the data published on the website of the Police Headquarters. Let us analyze the last two years.

In 2019, a total of 456 people drowned, including 49 women. The most common disasters were lakes (120 victims) and rivers (119). 82 people drowned in ponds, 39 drowned in lagoons. The fewest drownings occurred at the seaside – 21.

In 2020, there were more deaths as a result of drowning, i.e. 460 (including 48 women). This time rivers (118) claimed the most casualties, 111 people died in lakes, 84 in ponds and 37 in lagoons. Again, the lowest number of drownings occurred in the sea – 25.

What circumstances accompanied these misfortunes? The situation repeats itself in the analyzed years. Drownings most often occurred in unguarded, but not forbidden places. Details are presented in the table below.

Bravado, inattention and alcohol are invariably mentioned among the most common causes of drowning. As for the latter – according to police statistics, 2019 people were consuming alcohol in 98 before drowning, and 2020 in 117.

It does not absolutely follow from the above data that we are more prone to drowning in a river or lake, and less prone to drowning at the seaside. Radosław Wiśniewski, a rescuer of the Masurian Volunteer Rescue Service with 22 years of experience, says straightforwardly: you can drown anytime and anywhere, even in shallow, seemingly well-known to us reservoirs.

– Saying that you can drown in a spoonful of water is not a cliché, it is absolutely true »- emphasizes the lifeguard and reminds you that you cannot feel safe in any water: neither in the river we bathe in from childhood, nor on the same river. a piece of the sea that we have been visiting for years, nor on the lake.

– The tides in the river and in the sea move the shoals on the bottom. It may happen that where it was deep a year ago, this year it will be shallow – explains Radosław Wiśniewski.

How to prevent a tragedy? The lifeguard’s appeal

The lifeguard reminds that the only sensible place to swim is one where there is a qualified, trained lifeguard who not only can notice that someone is drowning, but also professionally pull him out of the water and provide help. What else?

Before entering the water on hot days, it is necessary to prepare the body for the temperature drop. – You have to remember about thermal shock. When we sunbathe, we are completely warm, so before we dive into the water, you need to cool down slowly. First, the head, armpits, chest – where there are large blood vessels. It should be a while. Otherwise, due to a sudden change in temperature, we may lose consciousness in the water and faint – warns Radosław Wiśniewski.

1. How not to drown? We ask the WOPR lifeguard

The lifeguard also calls for v Never jump headlong into unexplored, unknown places. – Under water, there may be remains of the old deck that cannot be seen, stones, it may be too shallow to make such a jump. A poorly made head jump is very often associated with a spinal cord rupture and a two- or four-limb paralysis – she emphasizes. The specialist admits that every rescuer with a lot of experience has experienced a jump on the head, which ended in paralysis. – I remember a gentleman from the beach in Giżycko who jumped from a pier and will be paralyzed for the rest of his life – he says and adds that there is no safe depth for this type of jumping into the water.

The lifeguard also reminds that parents should absolutely be with their children up to the age of seven when relaxing by any water. The elderly should not be lowered by the caretakers, as children are not aware of the dangers of water.

You may be interested in:

1. Sunstroke. “A person has the impression that one foot is already in that world”
2. Be careful on the water. A vest can save a life
3. Who is the most threatened by heat? Doctor: the victim can be a healthy person. When?

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