Training Children for Prehospital Aquatic Interventions: Assessing Throwing Skills Using Traditional and Alternative Materials in a Simulated Water Rescue.

Abstract

Background: Drowning remains a significant cause of mortality among children world-wide, making prevention strategies crucial. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends training children in safe rescue techniques, including the use of basic skills such as throwing floating objects. This study aims to address a knowledge gap regarding the throwing capabilities of children aged six to twelve using conventional and alternative water rescue materials.

Method: A total of 374 children aged six to twelve years participated in the study, including both males and females. A randomized crossover approach was used to compare throws with conventional rescue material (ring buoy and rescue tube) to an alternative material (polyethylene terephthalate [PET]-bottle). Throwing distance and accuracy were assessed based on age, sex, and the type of rescue tools used.

Results: Children of all ages were able to throw the PET-bottle significantly farther than both the ring buoy (P <.001; d = 1.19) and the rescue tube (P <.001; d = 0.60). There were no significant differences (P = .414) in the percentage of children who managed to throw each object accurately.

Conclusion: Conventional rescue materials, particularly the ring buoy, may not be well-suited for long-distance throws by children. In contrast, lighter and smaller alternatives, such as PET-bottles, prove to be more adaptable to children's characteristics, enabling them to achieve greater throwing distances. The emphasis on cost-effective and easily accessible alternatives should be implemented in drowning prevention programs or life-saving courses delivered to children.