National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Contracts Management Branch, 6100 Bldg., Suite 7A07, 6100- Executive Blvd MSC 7510, Bethesda, MD 20892-7510

A -- THE EFFECTS OF SWIMMING LESSONS ON THE RISK OF DROWNING IN CHILDREN AGES 12-59 MONTHS SOL NICHD-SS-98-59 DUE 040798 POC Mrs. Lynn Salo, 301-496-4611 WEB: National Institutes of Health, http://www.nih.gov. E-MAIL: National Institutes of Health, ls59u@nih.gov. The NICHD is planning to award a contract to determine the feasibility of conducting a case control study to evaluate the relationship between swimming lessons and the risk of drowning in young children. To determine the kinds of organizations which could participate in this study and/or whether the procurment should be a small business set-aside, we are looking for capability statements. Drowning is a leading cause of unintentional injury death in the United States. Young children, under the age of five, are at particularly increased risk with drowning rates peaking among children ages 1-2 years. Interventions to prevent these deaths are dependent on the age of the victim and on the specific circumstances surrounding the event. It is apparent that mandatory pool fencing is effective in preventing submersion injuries in this young age group; however, there continues to be problems in implementing this proven strategy. The effectiveness of other prevention strategies is less well understood, and in somecases controversial, such as the value of swimming lessons which may actually increase exposure. While a carefully designed case-control study is probably the most appropriate manner in which to evaluate the effects of swimming lessons, questions remain about the feasibility of conducting such an investigation. The purpose of this feasibility study is to test various methods for identifying and enrolling cases (drowning and near drowning victims) and to determine the most feasible and cost effective method for selecting and enrolling controls. All eligible submersion victims in a defined geographic area will be identified. A subset of these victims will be enrolled in this pilot study and controls will be selected and enrolled utilizing several different selection strategies. In order to provide data on the actual cost and feasibility of conducting such a study, the contractor will be asked to provide a time/motion description of all activities related to the conduct of the case/control study. This will include careful documentation the following activities: resources expended in surveillance for cases, time and expenses associated with the identification, contact, enrollment, and interview of cases; time and expenses associated with the selection, contact, enrollment and interview of controls; time and expenses associated with the conduct of site surveys. Cases will include children, ages 12 through 59 months, who drowned or nearly drowned in a swimming pool or other large body of water. Only warm water drownings/near drownings will be included. Near-drownings will be limited to patients who suffered a submersion event and required at least 4 hours of assisted ventilation. Controls will include children matched on age of the child (+/- 3 months), gender, presence or absence of a swimming pool at the child's home. Information on pool fencing, other barriers e.g. pool cover, amount of time the child spends in the home, child temperament, parenting style, and other potentially confounding variables will be collected at the time of the interview. Methods for identifying appropriate controls vary according to the type of drowning. Several mechanisms for identifying controls will be tested. Parents/Guardians of cases and controls will be interviewed within two months of the submersion event. The study will include an on-site evaluation of the physical environment for both cases and controls. The purpose of this synopsis is to determine whether there are sources with the above qualifications to perform the work described. Capability statements should be submitted to the following address by April 7, 1998: Mrs. Lynn Salo, Contract Specialist, CMB, NICHD, NIH, 6100 Executive Building, MSC 7510, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7510 (or Overnight courier 6100 Executive Blvd., Rockville, Maryland 20852). Phone number: 301-496-4611 and FAX number: 301-402-3676. (0082)

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