Simple things you can do to prevent your child from drowning

Drowning is one of the leading causes of death for children in Thailand. 

Why is water so dangerous?
A young child can drown in just 5 cm of water, and worse still, within seconds. Most of the time, you may not even hear any screaming, spluttering, or splashing. If they are face down in the water, every second counts. Pools, beaches, tubs, schools, water holes, rivers, lakes, and ponds — water is everywhere, and children are attracted to it.

Damage caused by drowning
When the brain is deprived of oxygen, the result is usually brain damage or death. Oxygen deprivation caused by drowning can result in severe neurological damage to survivors. Within just 5 minutes of oxygen deprivation, brain cells can start to die, leading to permanent neurological and psychological harm in drowning victims.

What can you do to protect Your Child?
As a parent or caregiver, you must physically restrict access to all areas with water where it is possible for a small child to fall face down. You can use the following methods:

• Cover any body of water in your home that’s big enough to fit a baby’s face 
• If you have a pool at home, put a high enough fence around the pool and around a fish pond if you have any
• Inspect the neighborhood for similar risk areas 
• If your child has access to a  pool or a pond never leave the child unattended
• Teach Your Child to swim  as early as possible and use flotation devices 

Remember that kids are incredibly persistent and creative, and they find ways to get to the water if they put their minds to it.

What to do in case of drowning?
Quick response is crucial in saving a baby from drowning. On noticing a drowning incident, take the following steps immediately:

1. Remove the baby from the water as quickly and carefully as possible
2. Call for emergency
3. If the baby is unconscious, begin CPR immediately
4. If the baby is conscious and coughing, turn them onto their side to clear any water from their mouth and nose
5. Keep the baby warm and still until medical assistance arrives
6. Note that there could be oxygen deprivation with a possible traumatic brain injury. If you have saved your child’s cord blood stem cells, contact your provider so they can prepare the stem cells for treatment
7. Monitor the baby for signs of traumatic brain injuries after the accident

With immediate CPR, 66% of drowning victims survive but are often left with the damage of oxygen deprivation or traumatic brain injuries. 

What to do in case of traumatic brain injuries
There is encouraging research from THAI StemLife that shows that collected and stored cord blood can be effective in treating traumatic brain injury caused by drowning and traumatic brain injuries caused by other accidents like falls, road traffic accidents, and trauma-related incidents.

However, the window of opportunity is small, the cord blood must be administered within 48 hours. If you have it stored, the delivery can be immediate. This is why THAI StemLife offers a 24/7 service and a hotline for such emergencies, making it possible to reduce the severity of the damage. Even those that do not have stored cord blood stem cells from their bone marrow could help if done in time. You can reach their 24-hour hotline at +6681 340 7676.

Mali’s trusted partner
THAI StemLife is Thailand’s first and largest stem cell bank and the only one with real-life-saving cases. They are the only provider in Thailand that operates 24/7 for traumatic brain injury emergencies.