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Water Safety
Nothing feels better on a hot summer day that a dip in the pool. Water is so inviting in the summer and many have wonderful memories of "the old swimming hole". However there are others who have completely different memories of the swimming hole. For some the memories are a nightmare.
Drowning is the second leading cause of death from injury in the United States in children from infants to age 15. Children less than five years and adolescents between age 15 and 24 have the highest rate of drowning. For every child who drowns four children are hospitalized for near drowning. One third of the near drowning suffers significant brain damage.
We ask where do these drowning and near drowning take place?
- Children less than one year of age frequently drown in the bathtub or in a bucket of water. The child may lose his balance and fall into a bucket of water and can't get out.
- Children between the age 1-4 years most often drown in the family or apartment pool. They enter the pool from the unprotected side. Usually these children were last seen in the house. The caregiver loses eye e contact with the child for a moment and the child find \s his way to the pool. Immersion is silent, no screams or splashing is heard.
- Children between 5-19 usually drown in lakes, pool and rivers.
Now that we have looked at who drowns now lets explore some ways to prevent this tragedy.
- Learn to swim. Teach your children to swim at a young age.
- Never swim alone.
- Obey all rules and posted signs
- Know how to prevent, recognize and respond to emergencies.
- Wear a life jacket if you can't swim or are just learning to swim. An inflatable air mattress or a swim ring does not take the place of a life jacket.
- Don't swim in cold water for it can lower your body temperature and cause hypothermia.
- Never dive or jump into unknown water
- Obey all "No Swimming" signs.
- Never swim in a canal, drainage ditch or arroyos.
- If you are swimming in a lake or river NEVER dive into water without checking first to be sure it is deep enough and that there are no objects under water that you could hit you head on. Diving accidents are one of the leading causes of a broken neck and paralysis if the person survives.
- Chose rivers and lakes that are clean and have well maintained swimming areas.
Anyone who has a pool or frequents swimming area should be certified in CPR. The sooner a person who has suffered a near drowning receives First aid, which may necessitate CPR, the better their chances are of surviving the accident with the least amount of residual injury. A good First Aid/CPR course may be what saves the life of your family member, friend or stranger.
Summer should be a wonderful time with lots of outdoor family fun. Let's remember the safety rules and stay safe and have fun.
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