Regional burden of child drowning in Iran(Guilan province):2017-2022

Background: Drowning and immersion in water are common and preventable causes of injury and death in children Objective: This study aims to determine the regional burden of drowning children in Iran(Guilan province) from March 20, 2017, and March 20, 2022 Methods: This study was designed based on the drowning registration system. The data of children who experienced drowning events were analyzed descriptively using the ARMA analysis process model. Results: During the five-year study period, 106 cases of fatal and non-fatal drowning in children were identified. Approximately 60% of them died at the scene or in the hospital. It is important to note that for every child rescued at the scene, at least 4 children died at the scene and more children were never brought to the hospital. Children in the 11-15 age group and boys are particularly at risk )boy: girl ratio~ 2:1). Most drowning cases occurred in the summer season between 1 pm and 8 pm. The locations with a high risk of drowning were the sea(66%) followed by rivers (11.3%). Decreasing trends were observed in the frequency of children drowning events. Conclusion: The analysis of the data shows that the pandemic affected the death process, not caused by drowning in children. The high prevalence of the risk of drowning in children aged 1 to 15 years, unlike other studies, highlights the need for an increase in the number of lifeguards on the coasts and their continuous education. The development of pre-hospital emergency centers on beaches and natural water environments is essential in Gilan province.