Scientists identify category of people most at risk of drowning

May 11, 2022  18:10

With the arrival of summer comes the swimming season but for some people, knowing how to swim may not be enough to keep them safe.

That's because certain medical conditions significantly increase the risk of drowning, according to a new Canadian study, UPI writes.

About one in three adults and children over 10 years old who drowned in Canada between 2007 and 2016 had a chronic medical condition, according to the study.

Topping the list were people with coronary heart disease, a common condition, as well as people with seizure disorders. Women aged 20 to 34 with seizure disorders were 23 times more likely to drown than the general population, the researchers reported.

For the study, the team of scientists used data on nearly 4,300 drownings from a Canadian database.

Most drownings occurred when the person was alone. Activities that led to drowning included swimming (25 percent) and boating (24 percent), with 36 percent of the cases occurring in lakes or ponds. About 81% of the people who drowned were men. About 63% of the drownings occurred in urban areas, the researchers found.

The study's authors suggested that public health campaigns should initially focus on prevention strategies among people with pre-existing medical conditions and those who drowned while swimming.

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