Heat reigns in Ukraine. In cities, children, teenagers and even adults love to cool off in fountains. But it could end in tragedy
So, we wrote that in the Dnieper a 4-year-old boy died, who played in the fountain. He slipped, fell on a part of the fountain, and eventually damaged his internal organs. Doctors saved him for a day, but the miracle did not happen. The boy died, and his mother faces up to 5 years in prison for improperly fulfilling her parental responsibilities.
Child safety expert Elena Lizvinskaya told what other dangers lie in wait in the fountains, except for the risk of falling and getting injured. And she described several cases from her practice.
Case one
The child with his parents was in one of the Kiev shopping and entertainment centers. He played with splashes from the fountain and pulled his hands to the water. When mom went shopping, dad took off his son's sandals and clothes and let the 5-year-old child go to "run" in the fountain. As I told my mother later, the child became bored, and he decided to entertain him in this way. While running, the boy slipped and hit the structural elements of the fountain with his chin... As a result of the fall, 5 teeth were knocked out, 1 was broken at the root, the tongue was bitten in two places. Surgery, stitches, rehabilitation.
Water in fountains - the source of leptospirosis and hepatitis / istockphoto.com
Case two
Mom and her friend met in the center of Kiev. We went for a walk on Khreshchatyk with our daughters. One girl was 7 years old, the other 10 years old. While the mothers talked, the girls persuaded them and the mothers were allowed to "wet their feet in the fountains." Eventually, they started playing catch-up.
The older girl slipped, pushed the younger and both fell. As a result of the fall, the older girl has a closed head injury. The youngest had a displaced clavicle fracture and a compression fracture of the spine.
The main danger of fountains
It is important to understand that any reservoirs and fountains that are not specially equipped are initially traumatic.
The reason lies in many factors.
Constructions and materials
Initially, the fountains were made of solid materials, with a large number of steps, transitions, and decorative elements in the structure.
Artificial reservoirs have not gentle slopes, which, if necessary, complicates the time of assistance and accessibility to the victims.
Equipment
Each fountain is equipped with pumps, nozzles, various pipes and adapters, as well as metal elements, the result of falling onto which is fraught with:
⚠craniocerebral trauma of varying severity,
⚠ trauma to internal organs,
⚠ fractures of the upper and lower extremities,
⚠injuries in the face area,
⚠ soft tissue injuries.
High humidity
Water makes all surfaces of artificial reservoirs and fountains extremely slippery, which seriously increases the risk of slipping.
Before allowing a child to climb into the fountain, think that homeless people often wash there / istockphoto.com
Electrical trauma
Pumps, lights, pump pipes and all electrical wiring - electricity is used everywhere. There is a risk of electric shock, especially in humid conditions and directly in water.
Dirty water
A fountain or any outdoor body of water is not a pool. And the water in the fountain, as in any fresh water body, does not undergo any additional cleaning or disinfection at all. They collect all dust, dirt, debris and rainwater from the surrounding air, sites and wastewater.
During periods of high temperatures, the water heats up much faster and serves as a favorable environment for the intensive reproduction of microbes. This is also facilitated by the lack of exchange and renewal of water.
In any open fresh water body and fountain, not only should you not swim, but you should not wash your hands and fruits - this sometimes occurs ...
In addition, city pigeons, sparrows and crows, homeless animals and homeless people bathe in the fountains.
In the water, microbes that contribute to ascoridosis, giardiasis and leptospirosis. Cholera, hepatitis A and salmonellosis are often found in the water of fountains and fresh water bodies.
