Worldwide, drowning is one of the leading causes of death in children up to four years. In Australia, for every death by drowning, there are at least four admitted to hospital after nearly drowning. Of these, writes 2012 Churchill Fellow Michael Morris in his report, 22 per cent of cases ‘are left with severe or persistent respiratory or neurological consequences, and at least 5 per cent of child survivors from drowning … were discharged with severe neurological deficits (meaning they would survive in a vegetative state).’
Michael Morris dedicates his report, to Samuel Morris, his son who was tragically affected by nearly drowning. Michael and his wife started the Samuel Morris Foundation for him and for the benefit of other children who survive drowning but in an altered state. Michael and his wife noticed that it was common for families in these circumstances to feel that they did not receive adequate preparation to care for a child with chronic and complex medical needs.
The media commonly focuses only on life or death in their reporting of drowning. We are not prepared for an alternative scenario to children either drowning or surviving unaffected by the experience. Now there is a Drowning Support Network to help the unfortunate people affected by the little known phenomenon of a child having almost drowned and then left in a detrimental state afterwards. Parents, while not having to mourn the loss of their child, must mourn a different loss – that of their child as he or she was before.
In his thorough report, Michael highlights the need for research into the long-term outcomes of non-fatal drownings, and for better communication. The existence of support groups relevant to this situation needs to be communicated to the medical community so that they can then refer those involved in cases of non-fatal drowning to the support groups as soon as possible.
Excerpt from “Inspiring Australians” written by Penny Hanley (2015)
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