Why you shouldn't dive while playing in the water
Aug 06, 2024
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Due to the hot weather in summer, many people visit the sea, valleys, and swimming pools. However, as soon as you arrive at the water's edge, you often get into an accident while trying to dive. In August last year, a man in his 20s was diagnosed with quadriplegia due to a cervical fracture while attempting to dive at a swimming pool in Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do. According to statistics from the Ministry of Public Administration and Security, out of 122 water play accidents that have occurred in the past five years (2019-2023), safety negligence alone accounted for 40 (32%).
The area around the water is often slippery due to water. As a result, there is a risk of trauma due to surrounding stones, sidewalk blocks, and corners of the structure, not the diving target point. In addition, if you try to dive without recognizing the depth of your heart due to excitement, you can hit your head on the floor and suffer head trauma or even a cervical fracture.
If you are injured while diving in a swimming pool or valley, you should first determine if there is brain damage or cervical damage to the patient. If you are unconscious, you should secure your airway, and if you are conscious, you should check whether you breathe well continuously, whether your arms and legs are strained, and if you have numbness or abnormal sensations.
"If cervical damage is suspected, raising the body or making it walk can lead to additional damage, so do not," said Pi Yong-hoon, director of Suwon Nanuri Hospital's Spinal Center. You have to lie down in the right position and make him rest"After arriving at the hospital, you should not be allowed to consume any food, including drinks or water, so that surgery or examination can be carried out smoothly, and you should seek help from an expert by reporting to 119 rescue teams."
Our body's neck is made up of a total of seven thin and small bones. It usually supports a head weight of about 5 to 7 kilograms, so it is easy to be damaged even by a small impact. Of these, the second bone is well fractured, followed by the sixth and seventh. External shocks caused by diving are directly related to the patient's prognosis and life, depending on how accurate and fast the examination is.
Because the cervical vertebrae are smaller than other vertebrae, and the second cervical vertebrae are about a third of the little finger, it is difficult to see on X-rays, CT or MRI scans should accurately identify cervical fractures and nerve damage.
Cervical fractures can be improved by wearing assistive devices or medication if there is no instability or nerve damage in the neck bone. However, if the cervical spine is dislocated or the degree of injury is severe, cervical fracture fusion can be performed. For the surgery, it is important to attach the fractured part safely to the cervical spine. In the case of fixing with a thin screw from the front of the neck, extreme care is required to prevent nerve damage, so the clinical experience and expertise of a specialist are required.
To prevent diving accidents, do not dive in places where the water depth is less than 4 meters. Cardiovascular diseases such as heart disease or hypertension patients due to diabetes or obesity should avoid diving itself. When diving, if the head is directed downward, blood pressure increases and blood is suddenly drawn to the brain, which can lead to cerebral hemorrhage.
"It is important to take a close look at the water depth to ensure safety before diving," said Pi Yong-hoon, director of Suwon Nanuri Hospital's Spine Center. "You should first relax your neck and waist by stretching. If you dive and feel even a mild pain near your neck, don't delay and go to the hospital for a thorough examination and treatment."
If you enjoy diving in the water, you should follow safety rules and check your physical condition. It is important to keep in mind that a moment's negligence can leave a lifelong regret.
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bellho@sportschosun.com
