面對自己的疑問,我依舊試圖從資料庫中搜尋答案,看看過去的科學論文能否給予我們些微解答。結果非常有趣,美國小兒科醫學會(American Academy of Pediatrics)從 1980 年,就陸續針對這個問題發表政策性聲明,結果不令人意外,他們其實並不贊成太小的小孩參與游泳課程(註)。因為此類課程,會讓父母錯誤的以為小孩在水中是安全的,但其實不然,水中危機處處,一不小心可能就會造成不可逆的後果。
註:美國小兒科學會(American Academy of Pediatrics)的政策性聲明(Policy Statement)有一個原則,發表五年後就會自動失效,除非有經過合適的改版。目前這裡所討論的論點,主要來自 2010 與 2000 的聲明。當然你可以說這個聲明已經失效,但是目前尚未找到更合適的研究與說法之前,個人認為此聲明仍值得採信。
American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Sports Medicine and Fitness and Committee on Injury, Violence, and Poison Prevention. Swimming programs for infants and toddlers. Pediatrics. 2000;105(4pt 1):868–870.
American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Injury, Violence, and Poison Prevention. Prevention of drowning. Pediatrics. 2010;126(1). Available at: www.pediatrics.org/cgi/doi/10.1542/peds.2010-1264
Lazar, R. (June 23, 2022). Preventing and treating swimmer’s war during pool season. https://www.entmemphis.com/preventing-and-treating-swimmers-ear- during-pool-season/
Munatones, S. (June 28, 2020). Drying out your ears with Mack’s ear dryer after swimming in pool or open water. https://www.openwaterswimming.com/drying-out-with-macks-ear-dryer/
備註:C57BL/6是一種實驗小鼠的品種,在繁衍數個世代之後,產生了具有相異特質的亞種。為了區別這些亞種,C57BL/6後面要加上繁殖小鼠的單位代號。例如:C57BL/6 J的J代表美國「傑克遜實驗室」(the Jackson Laboratory),而C57BL/6 N的N則是指美國「國家衛生研究院」(the National Institutes of Health,簡稱NIH)。[4]