POOL TIME POOL TIME POOL TI....does everyone here actually know how to swim???!!!

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 One of the stereotypes of Aussie that’s actually true is our love for the beaches, pools and water parks - I mean who wouldn’t w our amazing WHITE SAND beaches (that was actually sold to Jeju-do from QSD 😂) and blistering summer heat. So w the summer approaching and an extremely tragic pt case seen this week, I thought I would do a post on water safety


But first w the pt story: 

21M engaged in a breath holding competition with brother in pool - did not resurface after 3 mins, family started to worry. Pt pulled out of pool unresponsive, CPR 10mins, O2 sat 50% when ROSC. BIBA, ICU admission. Loss of grey-white matter differentiation on MRI brain suggestive of global brain insult. Sedated ator, pupil equal, brisk reaction to light, limbs withdraw at painful stimuli. Intubated and one seizure episode day 2 of admission. Bleak prognosis. 

Cannot even begin to imagine the psychological trauma currently experienced by his brother, family, and friends.


Water safety tips

- young children < 7yo should ALWAYS BE WITHIN ARMS REACH OF AN ADULT AT ALL TIMES→ it is absolutely terrifying how fast a kid can go down the minute you turn your back → if you need to go to the bathroom, TAKE KID W YOU → better the hassle and be safe than sorry → DON’T JUST GET OLDER SIBLING (unless adult) TO SUPERVISE → may not be able to haul baby sibling out / panic 

- children 7-12yo WITHIN EYESIGHT OF AN ADULT AT ALL TIMES 

- enrol children EARLY to swimming programs - community centres or at school 

- MALE AGED 25-64 OVERREPRESENTED IN DROWNING INCIDENTS → they often believe that they can’t drown, more likely to engage in risky behaviour → 80% OF DROWNING MALE SO ABSOLUTE BS THAT EXPERIENCED MALES CAN’T SINK (more info @ Unsinkable Male - resource produced by Vic Gov) 

- ALCOHOL AND WATER DON’T MIX → get a mocktail instead if u wanna look fancy and then alcoholic drinks ONLY AFTER FINISHING SWIM FOR THE DAY 

- STAY HYDRATED → so easy to forget that you can still sweat in water cuz you don’t feel it but if you become severely dehydrated, can get dizzy and even lose consciousness

- home pools → MAKE SURE SAFETY DOORS UP TO STD → SKIMPING ON COSTS NOT WORTH LOSING YOUR LIFE OR ABI FROM PROLONGED HYPOXAEMIA

- if going to beach → check weather cond and SWIM W/IN SURF LIVERSAVER SET BOUNDARIES → they ain’t trying to spoil your fun, they don’t want you to sink and drown 

- if had drowning or near drowning incident, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE present to hospital, we don’t want death from secondary drowning 🫣

So practice water safety this summer to have a memorable summer break IN A GOOD WAY! ☺️

Will probably do another post on how to spot and survive a rip current cuz there’s like 17000 rip currents in Aussie beaches apparently 💀

More resources @ Play it safe by the water  by Vic Gov (also where most of the water safety tips from this blog comes from) 😊



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