This is an article that must be read by anyone concerned with the safety of children.
You think that it could never happen to your
family, but each year more than 800 children
drown. These incidents are not only preventable
but predictable. Here are the five truths
about children who drown
and what you can do to help
keep your children safe
around water.
Sign Up forSafety Reminders!
Children drown quickly and silently—in a matter of seconds.
Adults who were present when a child drowns were
often distracted in some way, by talking on the phone,
chatting with other adults around the pool, or reading.
What you can do about it:
• Actively supervise your children around water, and
have a phone nearby to call for help in an emergency.
• When there are several adults present and children are
swimming, use a Water Watcher card to designate an
adult as the Water Watcher to prevent gaps in supervision.
• Download the Water Watcher Card.
Sign Up forSafety Reminders!
Curious children, especially those younger than 4 years
old, can easily find and fall in to bodies of water like pools,
tubs and buckets. Often they are discovered too late to
save.
What you can do about it:
• Never leave a child alone when in or near a body of
water—even if it’s less than a few inches.
• For pool owners, make sure your pool has four-sided
fencing and a self-closing, self-latching gate.
• Hot tubs should be covered and locked when not in
use.
Sign Up forSafety Reminders!
Drowning victims who are rescued from the water need
CPR immediately—before the paramedics arrive. It can
prevent brain damage and be the difference between life
and death.
What you can do about it
• Get certified.
• There are plenty of CPR classes available to meet busy
schedules.
• Contact your local health department, hospital or visit
their Web site to locate a local American Red Cross
Chapter that offers courses year-round.
Sign Up forSafety Reminders!
Children from non-swimming households are eight times
more likely to be at-risk of drowning. Minority children
have especially low rates of swimming ability and high
rates of drowning.
What you can do about it:
• Enroll your child in swimming lessons.
• If you do not know how to swim either, enroll in a
parent-child learn-to-swim class.
• To find swimming lessons, contact your local parks
and recreation department, an aquatics center or visit
the YMCA Web site to find a YMCA near you.
Sign Up forSafety Reminders!
Nearly 5,000 boating accidents occur each year in open
waters (lakes, rivers and oceans) and more than 700 people
drown. Of those who drown, nine out of 10 are not wearing
a life jacket. Also, alcohol use is involved in up to one in
five reported boating fatalities.
What you can do about it:
• Have your child wear a life jacket every time you go
boating or are on a dock.
• Avoid or moderate your alcohol consumption when
boating.
• If you and your family boat frequently, consider taking
a boating safety class through the U.S. Coast Guard.
http://www.safekids.org
You think that it could never happen to your
family, but each year more than 800 children
drown. These incidents are not only preventable
but predictable. Here are the five truths
about children who drown
and what you can do to help
keep your children safe
around water.
Sign Up forSafety Reminders!
Children drown quickly and silently—in a matter of seconds.
Adults who were present when a child drowns were
often distracted in some way, by talking on the phone,
chatting with other adults around the pool, or reading.
What you can do about it:
• Actively supervise your children around water, and
have a phone nearby to call for help in an emergency.
• When there are several adults present and children are
swimming, use a Water Watcher card to designate an
adult as the Water Watcher to prevent gaps in supervision.
• Download the Water Watcher Card.
Sign Up forSafety Reminders!
Curious children, especially those younger than 4 years
old, can easily find and fall in to bodies of water like pools,
tubs and buckets. Often they are discovered too late to
save.
What you can do about it:
• Never leave a child alone when in or near a body of
water—even if it’s less than a few inches.
• For pool owners, make sure your pool has four-sided
fencing and a self-closing, self-latching gate.
• Hot tubs should be covered and locked when not in
use.
Sign Up forSafety Reminders!
Drowning victims who are rescued from the water need
CPR immediately—before the paramedics arrive. It can
prevent brain damage and be the difference between life
and death.
What you can do about it
• Get certified.
• There are plenty of CPR classes available to meet busy
schedules.
• Contact your local health department, hospital or visit
their Web site to locate a local American Red Cross
Chapter that offers courses year-round.
Sign Up forSafety Reminders!
Children from non-swimming households are eight times
more likely to be at-risk of drowning. Minority children
have especially low rates of swimming ability and high
rates of drowning.
What you can do about it:
• Enroll your child in swimming lessons.
• If you do not know how to swim either, enroll in a
parent-child learn-to-swim class.
• To find swimming lessons, contact your local parks
and recreation department, an aquatics center or visit
the YMCA Web site to find a YMCA near you.
Sign Up forSafety Reminders!
Nearly 5,000 boating accidents occur each year in open
waters (lakes, rivers and oceans) and more than 700 people
drown. Of those who drown, nine out of 10 are not wearing
a life jacket. Also, alcohol use is involved in up to one in
five reported boating fatalities.
What you can do about it:
• Have your child wear a life jacket every time you go
boating or are on a dock.
• Avoid or moderate your alcohol consumption when
boating.
• If you and your family boat frequently, consider taking
a boating safety class through the U.S. Coast Guard.
http://www.safekids.org
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