Drowning Prevention Tips

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that drowning is the leading cause of accidental death in children 1 to 4 years of age.

According to the CDC in the May 18 issue of their Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, more kids die from drowning than any other cause except birth defects. About half of these accidents take place in swimming pools; and that boys are four times more likely to get drowned than girls.

And a lot of drowning survivors suffered irreversible brain damage, said Dr. Julie Gilchrist, a medical epidemiologist in the Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention of the CDC, who co-authored the report.

So if you’re planning to go on a vacation where there’s a beach or a swimming pool, be sure to watch out for your toddlers and pre-schoolers. And if you have your own swimming pool at home, you need to be more careful to keep your child safe from the danger of drowning.

You should learn about the things which you can do to help minimize the risk for this accident. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the following:

• All caregivers should be able to do CPR. This is very important in case of emergency and the only person around is the caregiver.
• Make sure that no toy is left in or around a pool at all times. Kids might slip or lose their balance when trying to reach for a toy near or in the water.
• Never leave a child alone in or near the pool area. Always have a responsible adult looking after your child.
• Ensure that an adult is within arm’s length at all times. It is crucial that an adult who knows how to swim is always nearby when drowning accidents happen.
• Children 1 to 4 years of age should be taught how to swim. Remember though that teaching kids to swim is not a guarantee that they will be safe in the water.
• Make the kids understand that they should never run, push, or jump on others around water. And they should learn not to swim without anybody around.
• A phone must also be kept near the phone, together with rescue equipment, such as a life preserver and a shepherd’s hook (a long pole with a hook at the end). Having a phone and rescue equipment nearby is very important when accidents occur.
•  If you have a pool at home, surround it with a fence at least 4-feet high; and install gates that auto-close and auto-latch at a height that small kids cannot reach.
• If you have an inflatable or plastic pool, be sure to empty it after every use and turn it upside down so kids can’t put water in it.

Toddlers are naturally curious and adventurous. And their sense of danger is not yet fully developed. As a parent therefore, you need to be aware of your child’s whereabouts and activities at all times especially if you have a swimming pool at home or if you’re staying somewhere near a beach or a pool.

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