How to prevent drowning
Safety should be top priority when it comes to water-related activities, as drowning is one of the leading causes of injury-related death in children.
Kids are naturally drawn to water; except at bath time. Participating in swimming, aquatic sports and other water-related activities can provide a lifetime of fun and boost fitness and self-esteem. But only if safety comes first. Unfortunately, drowning is still the leading cause of injury-related death in children 1 to 4 and the second-leading cause in children 1 to 14.
The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services provides statistics for the number of children who drown each year in Texas. For every child who drowns, five more who nearly drowned are seen in emergency departments.
More than 3,500 Americans drown every year in non-boating-related accidents. Including, sadly, Olympic skier Bode Miller’s 19-month-old daughter in 2018.
Take steps to prevent drowning
It's essential to be aware that anyone could be at risk of a water emergency. The importance of knowing the proactive and reactive steps that people can take to prevent a drowning can mean the difference between life and death.
Lifesaving swimming safety tips
- Know the conditions of the environment, the water and the physical abilities and limits of each swimmer to anticipate potential problems
- Always designate at least one person to provide constant and direct supervision of swimmers
- Always wear a life vest when participating in water activities on the lake
- Nearly 90% of drowning victims who fell off of a boat weren't wearing life vests
- Have a rescue pole with life hook and life preserver readily available by pools for emergencies
- Utilize fences with locked gates, pool covers and other physical barriers to prevent unguarded access to pools
- A four-sided isolation fence that separates the pool from the house and yard reduces risk of drowning by 83% as compared to a three-sided fence
- Learn hands-free CPR in case of emergency
Drowning
As we've discussed in a previous blog on water injuries and illnesses, drowning isn't like what we see on TV. A drowning person is unable to call out for help or splash their arms. A Today article, written by a mom who nearly lost her toddler during a family pool party, to understand how quickly and quietly drowning can happen. The article provides an interesting insight from hospital staff: They told her the worst-case scenarios for child drownings are during family gatherings when there are plenty of people to supervise and everyone thinks someone else is watching the kids.
See if you can spot the drowning person in the video below before the lifeguard does.
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