Dr. Ülkümen Rodoplu, the vice president of the European Society for Emergency Medicine, told the Anatolia news agency that people between the ages of 5 and 32 have the highest drowning rates, adding that drowning is the fifth most common cause of death in the country.According to statistics from applications to emergency services over the last 10 years, approximately 1,000 people have drowned each year, Rodoplu said, and he stressed that this number of drowning incidents was the highest when compared to European countries.
“In addition, in Turkey babies and children also drown in buckets and bathtubs. Most of these cases are seen in infants and adolescents,” Rodoplu said. In recent years, many pools have been built, particularly in big cities and vacation destinations, and the number of accidental drowning cases in these pools has gradually increased, Rodoplu stated.
“We see necessary precautions are not being taken against pool incidents. There is a legal loophole. There have been many negative incidents including bone fractures, dislocation and twisting of arms and legs, and head trauma,” Rodoplu said. The senior expert stated employment of professional lifeguards and use of non-slip material on edges and around pools are just some of the precautions necessary.
“No matter the length of the pool, diving headfirst should be prohibited because such diving leads to neck and head traumas. Signs should be placed around pools. There should also be an infirmary nearby so treatment can be administered until an ambulance arrives. Doctors should be employed at big pools in coordination with the Chamber of Medical Doctors,” Rodoplu said, stressing the importance of giving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to the patient and quickly calling 112 for an ambulance in the event of an accident.
