2023-07-10 09:12:05
Given the general increase in aquatic activity in swimming pools, beaches, rivers and swamps, experts warn of the dangers and risks of injuries that diving into the water can cause.
According to data from the last balance of income provided by the National Hospital for Paraplegics of Toledo in the year 2022 until 8 people were admitted for spinal cord injuries traumatic caused by splashing water.
The eight people were men between the ages of 16 and 47. The average age of those admitted (24.9 years) is lower than that of any other subgroup of patients with traumatic spinal cord injury, says Dr. Antonio Juan Pastor, director of the hospital.
The National Hospital for Paraplegics, together with the Spanish Society of Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine (SERMEF), the National Federation ASPAYM (Association of people with spinal cord injury and other physical disabilities), the Red Cross and the Royal Spanish Federation of Rescue and First Aid have ally to insist on message of prudence as the most effective preventive measure to avoid spinal cord injuries.
The campaign, whose slogan this year is “Head yes, head no“, has the goal of preventing spinal cord injuries caused by diving and jumping, once the season of greatest aquatic activity of the year has begun.
The campaign will have a special presence on social networks with the hashtags #Zambullidas2023, #ConCabezaSí and #DeCabezaNo, and messages that remind bathers of the importance of observation and prudence to prevent spinal cord injury as a consequence of an inappropriate plunge.
diving injuries
Dr. Pastor observes that 75% of the patients who were admitted by diving suffered injuries in a swimming pool, that is, in a controlled environment.
“The eight affected men had cervical lesions in the highest part of the spine,” says the medical director.
Cervical injuries are the most serious among the different spinal cord injuries. They occur at the level of the first vertebrae and can affect breathing and even cause a risk of death.
The sequelae produced by these lesions seriously affect the lifestyle of the affected patients.
According to this doctor, when the patient survives, there is a high probability of being left in different degrees of tetraplegia, with difficulty in moving the arms and legs, or even dysfunctional problems in urination, defecation, and sexual activity.
“In the case of incomplete cervical injuries, the expected recovery is greater and the sequelae are less, yes, after a long and difficult rehabilitation,” explains Dr. Antonio Juan Pastor.
Mayte Gallego, president of ASPAYM, regrets finding new accidents every year with terrible consequences caused by lack of prudence while bathing.
“This year’s data corroborate it: we see it in the profile of the people admitted; young boys who are injured even in apparently safer areas, such as swimming pools in front of open spaces”, affirms the president of this association.
Gallego insists on the importance of moderating our enthusiasm and recalls two essential precautions to prevent spinal cord injuries when jumping into the water: “We must first make sure of the real depth and always jump hands first,” he says.
Pool plunge. Courtesy image.
Extreme caution in our jumps
Dr. Carolina De Miguel, president of SERMEF, urges the population to take extreme precautions in any aquatic environment.
In addition, it affects following two fundamental precautions to prevent injuries:
Know the depth of the water surface before diving. Avoid head jumping.
“Rehabilitation doctors, among many other pathologies, treat spinal cord injuries, and we emphasize that they can be avoided by being prudent,” says the expert.
In these summer environments, people tend to be more relaxed, but it is necessary not to let our guard down. The doctor defends that “fun and relaxation with prudence are possible.”
The president of SERMEF underlines the importance of knowing the bottom of the surface that in the case of the sea or the river may contain branches or rocks. In addition, the waves and currents vary the distance to the bottom and therefore extreme caution must be exercised.
“We recommend entering the water calmly and carefully, using the edges of the aquatic perimeter and avoiding risks by jumping into the water headfirst, standing stick-style, or turning somersaults or turns. You also need to avoid jumping too high,” he advises.
Enjoy but always with your head
The president of the Royal Spanish Rescue and Lifeguard Federation, Isabel García Sanz, recommends always consulting the personnel in charge of lifeguard services about what actions are or are not allowed.
In addition, it warns of the importance of reading the safety notices before entering the water and insists on respecting the rules and signs to avoid accidents.
In the event of an accident, professionals insist that the first thing to do is get the person out of the water and onto a hard surface. When doing so, we must be careful and move the body as a block to avoid possible injuries to the spine and neck area.
The second step is to check the breath.
Experts remind you that you should not be transferred to a health center in a private vehicle, but that it is better to call the emergency services. Sometimes, if the transfer is not carried out in the right conditions, injuries that are incomplete can end up becoming complete.
Dr. Juan Jesús Hernández, from the Red Cross Health area, reminds us that we must know and keep in mind at all times the AVA prevention behavior (warn the risk, assess possible dangers and adopt a safe attitude).
“Prevention is always better, because ‘Preventing is living’, and this does not imply reducing enjoyment or being negative. What we cannot forget is that this small investment of time in prevention, in assessing what I am exposing myself to, avoids complications that could ruin our vacations”, concludes the Red Cross doctor.
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