As we are fast approaching the summer season, Baptist Health System's Children’s Emergency Center (CEC), wants to remind you to use “layers of protection” to prevent drowning. Drowning is a leading cause of death in infants, children and adolescents.1
“Drowning is Preventable!” is the motto of the National Drowning Prevention Alliance (NDPA). All of us at North Central want you to have a safe and fun summer, so here are some things to remember when making your summer plans.
First, you should be aware of some alarming statistics that we can change together. Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury death for children age one to four, the second leading cause of unintentional injury death for children age one to fourteen, and the fifth leading cause of unintentional injury death for children of all ages in the United States.2
Children between one and four years of age were most likely to drown in swimming pools. It was found that most children younger than five years old who drowned, did so by entering the pool from their home through the unprotected side of the pool (the side of the pool that directly faces the house, with no intervening fence). 3
Most children were last seen in the home and were out of the parent’s or caregiver’s eye contact for only a moment, and the immersion was silent. 3,4
Alcohol is estimated to be involved in 30 to 50 percent of all adolescent and adult drownings.4
So, what is the best way to prevent these tragedies? The best way to protect your children is by using “layers of protection” 5
This means that multiple strategies and/or devices are used simultaneously. The most effective layers of protection include supervision, physical barriers, alarms, swimming lessons, CPR, rescue techniques and an emergency action plan. The top two ways are adult supervision and four-sided isolation fencing.6
According to Christa East, an experienced swim instructor, previous aquatic director and Ellis lifeguard, swim lessons are important to decrease the chance of panic when a child is in the water. Lastly, make sure that you and your child’s caregiver have taken CPR. Not even the most diligent caregiver can have their eyes on a child 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and barriers can be breached. The NDPA, The American Academy of Pediatrics and Baptist Health System's Children’s Emergency Center urge using multiple strategies and devices simultaneously to help prevent injuries and death from drowning. Each additional layer or strategy beyond the first could be the one that saves a life. Use as many as possible at all times. If you find your child in a drowning situation start CPR and call 911.
The staff and physicians of the Children’s Emergency Center recommend knowing where your children are at all times. When near water, keep small children and special needs children within arms’ length. Designate a water safety person for all events involving water (that person should always be sober and know CPR). Use environmental strategies, including the installation of a four-sided fence around swimming pools, pool alarms and alarms on all doors leading to the outside. Keep bathrooms closed off from toddlers. Enroll your children in swim lessons and take CPR.
Have a safe and fun summer! Remember to use sun block and to stay inside during the heat of the day!
References:
1. © 2009 American Heart Association
2. CDC, WISQARS, 2005
3. A multistate study conducted by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
4. PEDIATRICS Vol. 112 No. 2 August 2003, pp. 440-445, Ruth A. Brenner, MD, MPH and Committee on Injury, Violence, and Poison Prevention
5. AHA, AAP, NDPA
6. NDPA