Make a Splash With Water Safety 11/24/2008
Swimming pools, lakes and Alabama’s beautiful Gulf coast all provide fun ways to cool off during the summer. However, water can be very dangerous for children. Over 800 children in the U.S. drown each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Drowning is the leading cause of injury-related deaths among children age 1 to 3, and the second-leading cause among kids under the age of 15.
These statistics are frightening, yet most parents don’t realize that water is one of the top killers of kids. In fact only 34 percent are aware of how dangerous water can be, according to a survey by Safe Kids Worldwide. That’s why Children’s Health System is providing these tips to help families play it safe around the water:
· Swimming classes are extremely important for young children—but never assume your child is “drown proof.” Close supervision for all children enjoying a pool is a must for their safety.
· Keep pools fenced with locked gates to prevent children from playing in the unsupervised area. Also, keep a top on the hot tub when it’s not in use. If you have a pool and a child, you should successfully complete a child CPR course.
· Take water-safety classes from the Red Cross and get CPR-certified.
· At the beach, swim only where lifeguards are present, and listen to the warnings lifeguards and park rangers. If there is a flag warning system for water conditions, be sure you understand what each flag means. If you see someone struggling in the water, call 911 immediately!
· Don’t mix alcohol and swimming.
· An infant can drown in only ONE INCH of water, so never leave a small child unsupervised in the bathtub or around mop buckets. The bathtub ranks second to swimming pools as an in-home site of drowning in children, and it is estimated that 30 children drown annually in buckets. And, remember to keep toilet lids down if you have a small child in the house.
For more information on this and other children’s health and safety issues, please call Children’s Connection Line at 1.800.504.9768.
