Drowning in children: Utstein style reporting and outcome

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Emergency Medicine
• Public Health Surveillance
• Drowning Epidemiology

Background:

• Paediatric drowning remains a significant public health concern.
• Understanding incidence and mortality is crucial for prevention strategies.
• Standardized reporting guidelines, such as the 'Utstein Style for Drowning', aid data consistency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the incidence and mortality rates of paediatric drowning incidents.
• To analyze survival outcomes based on the initiation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
• To compare findings with previous studies and 'Utstein Style for Drowning' guidelines.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective study analyzed paediatric drowning cases under 16 years of age.
• Data included hospitalizations and deaths in Uusimaa, Finland, from 1997 to 2007.
• Survival rates were assessed at hospital discharge and after a 1-year follow-up.

Main Results:

• 58 paediatric drowning cases were identified, with an annual incidence of 1.9/100,000 children.
• The highest incidence (2.8/100,000) was observed in children aged 1-4 years.
• Survival rates for CPR-initiated cases by emergency medical service (EMS) personnel were 42% at discharge and 27% at 1-year follow-up.

Conclusions:

• The incidence of paediatric drowning aligns with prior research.
• Overall mortality rates for paediatric drowning were higher than previously estimated.
• Initiation of CPR by EMS personnel demonstrated a notable impact on survival rates.