Drowning Deaths Rise to 58 as Israel's Swimming Season Ends
Translated & summarized from Now 14 by baba
Israel's swimming season ended with 58 drowning deaths, a slight increase from last year's 57, despite fewer overall incidents treated by Magen David Adom. Young children were particularly at risk, with 75 under age 10 requiring treatment, many in private pools. The Mediterranean Sea saw the highest number of incidents. MDA warns that drowning risks continue beyond the official season and urges public caution.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- 58 people drowned to death in Israel during the recent swimming season, a slight increase from last year.
- 75 children under the age of 10 were treated for drowning incidents, many in private pools.
- Magen David Adom treated 261 drowning victims overall, with 58 fatalities.
- The Mediterranean Sea was the location for the majority of drowning incidents.
- MDA warns that drowning risks persist even after the official swimming season concludes.
Israel's official swimming season concluded with a concerning rise in drowning fatalities, totaling 58 deaths compared to 57 in the previous year, according to Magen David Adom (MDA) data released Sunday. Despite a nearly 9% decrease in the number of drowning incidents requiring medical treatment by MDA teams, the number of fatalities increased. The data also highlights the significant danger to young children, with 75 individuals under the age of 10 treated for drowning. Many of these incidents occurred in private swimming pools, where four children lost their lives.
From April 9 to October 10, MDA paramedics provided medical care to 261 people rescued from various bodies of water. Of these, 58 died, one was in critical condition requiring resuscitation, 15 were seriously injured, 22 moderately, and 165 lightly injured. Fatalities were pronounced at the scene in 26 cases and in hospitals in 32 others. In contrast to the previous year, when five people were in critical condition, only one person required resuscitation this year, though serious injuries remained constant at 15.
The Mediterranean Sea was the site of the most incidents, with 143 drownings treated. Private pools saw 36 cases, the same number as public pools, while pools at vacation rentals accounted for 14. Other locations included the Dead Sea, the Jordan River, streams, the Red Sea, the Sea of Galilee, and the Sachne pools.
The age range of victims spanned from a nine-and-a-half-month-old infant in a private pool to an 88-year-old man at a beach in Eilat, both of whom survived. MDA emphasized that the danger of drowning persists even after the official season ends, urging the public to use only declared beaches with lifeguard services, heed their instructions, and maintain constant supervision of children near water.
"The paramedics of Magen David Adom are ready at all times to provide medical treatment and save lives, but the best way to deal with drowning is to prevent it in the first place," stated MDA Director-General Eli Bin.
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