Abstract

Background: Injuries encountered in association with the aquatic environment negatively affect morbidity and mortality rates in children. It is the second (in Bohemia the third) most frequent cause of injuries in children under 19 years of age. The targets of the study are as follows: to analyse the problems of children’s injuries associated with water in the Czech Republic by the mechanism of their origination; to compare the analysis of results with the situation abroad; to evaluate risk factors associated with the aquatic environment.
Material/Methods: The group includes 802 children aged 0–19 years who experienced accidents associated with the aquatic environment between 2002 and 2006; 14% drowned, 48% nearly drowned, 37% suffered injuries. The basic data for the study presented here was accumulated from multiple sources (statistical data, secondary analyses of documents, reports of the integrated emergency service, water rescue service, etc.).
Results: The results were statistically processed by the squared chi method. A statistically significant relationship was established between injuries originating in pools and the preschool age. (35.6%) No statistical significance was demonstrated with other variables.
Conclusions: The authors discuss the possibilities of providing safety for children at pools and in the vicinity of water reservoirs. They emphasise the necessity of permanent, concentrated surveillance on the part of parents and the building of protective devices restricting free access to the pool.

Keywords: Near Drowning - epidemiology, Internationality, Infant, Newborn, Drowning - epidemiology, Czech Republic - epidemiology, Child, Preschool, Child, Adolescent, Water - adverse effects, young adult