I commend the paper by Adelborg et al. comparing the use of mouth-to-face-shield and mouth-to-pocket-mask ventilation on manikins by surf lifeguards [1] but I note that they misquote the burden of death by drowning in their introduction. They state “drowning is the third leading cause of death worldwide”. Closer inspection of their reference [2] reveals it to be the “third leading cause of unintentional injury death worldwide”. Whilst it is right and proper to draw attention to a disease that claims an estimated 359 000 lives annually [2], the avoidance of aquaphobia amongst a specialty full of keen athletes is also of importance. [1] Adelborg K, Bjørnshave K, Mortensen M, Espeseth E, Wolff A, Løfgren B. A randomised crossover comparison of mouth-to-face-shield and mouth-to-pocket-mask ventilation by surf lifeguards in a manikin. Anaesthesia 2014; 69: 712–716. (http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/anae.12669/abstract) [2] World Health Organization. Drowning Fact Sheet N°347, April 2014. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs347/en/ (accessed 20/07/2014).
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