FRESH WATER DROWNING PREVENTION VIDEO – An impacting way to reduce drowning among children. Organization: Brazilian Lifesaving Society - SOBRASA Principal Author: Dr David Szpilman, MD Submit for video presentation David Szpilman, Joel Prates Pedroso, Jarbas Tróis D’Ávila, Eduardo Estevam Camargo Rodrigues, Onir Mocellin, Alexandre da Silva, Edemilson de Barros, Altemistoncley Diogo Rodrigues, Romero Nunes Silva Filho, Antônio Schinda, Luiz Monteiro da Silva Júnior, Mario Luiz Pereira Verdini,Fabio Braga,Sr Jorge Evaldo Cerqueira, Alexandre Cerqueira, Rômulo C. Sales, André de Souza Ferraz Alves, João Henrique de Medeiros, Jefferson Vilela, Carlos Eduardo Smicelato, Walmir Magalhães de Salles, Romeu Bruno, João Batista da Rosa Nunes, Rodrigo Thadeu de Araújo, Gouveia Bill, Márcio Morato, Marcelo Barros, Eduardo João Zaniol, Paulo Moreira Goulart, Alex Souza Alves, Luís Krüger, José Marcio, Salvador Alves Diniz Filho, Gabriel Lyrio, João José da Silva Júnior, and Danielli Braga de Mello. Fresh water drowning prevention video – an impacting way to reduce drowning among children. World Conference on Drowning Preve ntion, Danang - Vietnan 2011, Book of Abstracts, ISBN: 978-0-909689-33-9, P132
Abstract The Brazilian Lifesaving Society – Sobrasa - has been working since its foundation on the ways to promote drowning prevention, especially among children. One of our most efficiently tool is a running project at schools around the country where we have been using a prevention beach safet y messages presented by a cartoon video(1). These strategies have been so successful along this last years that drive us to do a drowning prevention cartoon exclusive to fresh water messages. The project “Drowning Prevention Cartoon at Fresh Water” is an e ffort to spread the drowning prevention message to children in a fast, uniform, funny and in an interesting way in Brazil e developing countries. Video messages transmission will be as much visual as possible but with 3 different languages legends available. Contents will be based on an international task force on open water drowning prevention – 18 drowning prevention experts from 12 countries – which established recently (2010) guidelines for families and individuals recreating at any open water site(2). The prevention messages will focus at rivers, lakes, ponds, pools and floating disasters. Always, when possible, specific messages as lifejacket use, lifeguard importance (using eye and sun protection) and some subtle messages will be reworked. Time frame of duration will be less than 10 minutes, with an introduction information about drowning statistics in the world and in Brazil and a focus on the main 6 general message and 8 specific fresh water prevention messages: 1 - Swim in areas with lifeguards and obey all safety signs and warning flags; 2 - Near or in-water, watch your children 100% of time;
84% of drowning occurs because of lack adult supervision; 3- Learn swimming and water safety survival skills; 4 - Learn safe ways of rescuing others without putting yourself in danger; 50% of victims thought they knew how to swim; 5 - Always swim with others; 6 – While in a boat, know how and when to use a life jacket; 7 – Be careful in rivers and lakes, hide currents and holes can drown you in seconds; 8 - Never go in the water after drinking alcohol or heavy meals; 9 - Always enter shallow and unknown water feet first; 10 - Floating objects are an “illusion of safety”, always use a lifejacket; 11 – Kids can drown any where, so fence, cover, flip off, close or vanish any water puddle in or around your house; 12 - Set water safety rules to your children; 13 - On floating disasters, dress immediately a lifejacket or grab any floatation material; look for high places to protect your self and call Fireman; never try to cross and stay away from currents; If inside a car, leave the car and protect yourself; If caught in a current stay floating baling up feet first without fighting and wave for help; 14 – “It was just a blink and he gone” is a frequently happen tragedy, don’t let goes to you - be aware transmit these messages to others. The cartoon drowning prevention video should be done by March 2011 and will be the main tool to our project with children at primary schools. The objective is to impact them with important messages on drowning prevention and safety without being boring or uninterested. After the video presentation, the Sobrasa instructor will have further 10 to 15 minutes to exchange information, answer questions and make final comments. Children will receive a folder with all summary information and a link to a web page where video presentation and different and attractive games on prevention are also available. This project seems to be an excellent strategy to impact children and easily reach distant in- land areas in Brazil and developing countries.
Bibliographical references: 1. Cerqueira J, Szpilman D; Cartoon Drowning Prevention Video – A way to reach children in 8 minutes; World Water Safety, Matosinhos – Portugal 2007, Book of Abstracts, ISBN: 978-98995519-0-9, p60 (awarded paper). 2. International Open Water Drowning Prevention Guidelines - Beerman S (Canada), Bennett E (USA), Bierens J (Netherlands), Brewster BC (USA), Connelly J (Ireland), Farmer N (Australia), Franklin R (Australia), George P (Australia), Kania J (Kenya), Matthews B (Australia), Moran K (New Zealand), Quan L (USA), Rahman A (Bangladesh), Stallman R (Norway), Stanley T (New Zealand), Szpilman D (Brazil), Tan RMK (Singapore), Tipton M (UK), Tansik M (USA)
Principal Author: Dr David Szpilman, MD
Founder, Former President and Medical Director of Brazilian Life Saving Society – SOBRASA; Retired Medical Chief of Drowning Resuscitation Center and Aeromedical Helicopter Staff MD - Fire Department of Rio de Janeiro (CBMERJ); Head of Adult Intensive Care Unit - Hospital Municipal Miguel Couto; Member of Brazilian National Resuscitation Council; Member of ILS Medical Committee; BOD Member of Sports Medical Council Rio de Janeiro; Av. das Américas 3555, Bloco 2, sala 302. Barra da Tijuca - RJ - Brazil 22631-004 Phones 055 21 99983951 Phone/Fax 055 21 33262378 or 24307168
[email protected] www.szpilman.com Co-authors: Joel Prates Pedroso, Jarbas Tróis D’Ávila, Eduardo Estevam Camargo Rodrigues, Onir Mocellin, Alexandre da Silva, Edemilson de Barros, Altemistoncley Diogo Rodrigues, Romero Nunes Silva Filho, Antônio Schinda, Luiz Monteiro da Silva Júnior, Mario Luiz Pereira Verdini,Fabio Braga,Sr Jorge Evaldo Cerqueira, Alexandre Cerqueira, Rômulo C. Sales, André de Souza Ferraz Alves, João Henrique de Medeiros, Jefferson Vilela, Carlos Eduardo Smicelato, Walmir Magalhães de Salles, Romeu Bruno, João Batista da Rosa Nunes, Rodrigo Thadeu de Araújo, Gouveia Bill, Márcio Morato, Marcelo Barros, Eduardo João Zaniol, Paulo Moreira Goulart, Alex Souza Alves, Luís Krüger, José Marcio, Salvador Alves Diniz Filho, Gabriel Lyrio, João José da Silva Júnior, and Danielli Braga de Mello.
