WILLEMSTAD – In the span of just one week, pediatricians at the Curaçao Medical Center (CMC) have treated three separate cases of children who nearly drowned. The incidents occurred both at sea and in swimming pools.

Doctors are urging parents and guardians to ensure that any child without a swimming diploma always wears flotation devices such as armbands or a life vest, and that children remain under constant supervision whenever they are in or near water. “Adults must keep their eyes on children at all times,” hospital experts warned.

Medical specialists emphasized that near-drowning incidents can have serious and long-lasting consequences, even when children survive. Among the risks are delayed symptoms, where a child may initially appear fine but complications emerge hours or days later. Other dangers include hypoxia, or lack of oxygen, which can damage the brain and affect movement and cognitive abilities; pneumonia caused by inhaled water; and long-term psychological impacts such as anxiety, fear of water, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Severe cases may even result in permanent neurological damage affecting learning and behavior.

These risks were explained in detail during CMC’s podcast Puntra un Eksperto with Dr. Duque on July 24, 2025, streamed via the hospital’s official Facebook page. The episode highlighted the urgent need for prevention and education and encouraged families to share the information widely.

With the recent rise in near-drowning incidents, CMC is calling on the community to remain vigilant and take simple, life-saving precautions whenever children are near water.