“There are jumps that can change your life!” is the name of the awareness campaign promoted by the Portuguese Society of Spinal Pathology (SPPCV), which aims to alert the population, especially younger people, about the consequences of “poorly calculated dives”.

Doctors emphasise in a statement that the number of accidents related to diving tends to increase during the summer months: “Between May and September, the greater influx to beaches and swimming pools makes it essential to reinforce care and raise awareness among the population about the dangers of diving in unknown locations or in shallow waters”.

"Spinal injuries caused by diving can have permanent and devastating consequences. A single poorly calculated dive can result in paralysis of the legs (paraplegia), of all four limbs (tetraplegia), or, in the most serious cases, death, when the fracture occurs in the uppermost segment of the spine," emphasises the president of SPPCV and orthopedist, Nelson Carvalho.

The orthopedist stresses that these situations constitute "true medical emergencies" and often require urgent surgical intervention.

"Even when pain is the only symptom, immediate medical evaluation is essential," warns Nelson Carvalho.

The campaign makes several recommendations, such as always checking the depth before diving, avoiding shallow areas or areas with obstacles, respecting signage, and remaining in supervised areas.

Experts also advise never diving under the influence of alcohol, not running around the pool, and always entering the sea walking, never headfirst.

The Portuguese Society of Spinal Pathology also emphasises the importance of knowing how to act in the event of an accident.

“In case of suspected spinal injury, you should immediately call 911 and wait for help to arrive without moving the victim. Any movement can irreversibly worsen the injury. The instructions of the INEM operator must be followed until help arrives,” he emphasises.

The campaign “There are jumps that can change your life!” will be present on SPPCV's social networks and in the media of municipalities and entities responsible for the supervision of beaches and swimming pools during the summer season.