These conditions probably increase the risk of SCIs from diving, even in natural bodies of water previously considered safe. Several strategies to prevent diving-associated SCIs have been suggested. States can closely monitor water levels in natural bodies of water during periods of low rainfall and can post warning signs to alertt potential divers of hazards. In some localities, public education and poster campaigns have been used, and areas that are too shallow for diving have been posted as being hazardous. Strengthening state-based surveillance of SCIs will help identify hazardous diving conditions under which SCIs may be more likely to occur.
Surveillance can also assist in implementing and evaluating measures to prevent SCIs.
National Coordinating Council on Spinal Cord Injury. Head and spinal cord injury prevention. Pierson P, Pierson E, Gelber B. A spinal cord injury prevention program. This conversion may have resulted in character translation or format errors in the HTML version. Users should not rely on this HTML document, but are referred to the original MMWR paper copy for the official text, figures, and tables.