As summertime approaches, kids are eager to be in and around
water. But because it takes only three seconds for a child to drown — and
because this can happen silently — parents should be vigilant about water
safety.
Drowning is the leading cause of accidental unintentional
injury-related death among children ages 1 to 4 and the second-leading
cause of unintentional injury-related death among children ages 1 to 14.
About 300 people drown each year in Texas, and for each
child who drowns, four are hospitalized for near drowning. And even a
near-drowning can cause brain damage, resulting in long-term disabilities.
As the state’s only pediatric hospital designated as a Level I
Trauma Center, Children’s takes water safety seriously. To increase water
safety awareness, Children’s participates in Know Before You Go, a drowning prevention program led by the hospital, the
YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas, the Dallas Area American Red Cross and the
Dallas Area Safe Kids Coalition.
The program’s slogan, "Ready,
Set, Save," incorporates easy steps you can take to prevent a child’s
drowning. These steps and other important drowning prevention information
is available on the Children’s Web site.
Ready!
- Create layers of protection between the water and your children,
such as door and window alarms, a non-climbable 5-foot fence surrounding
the pool, self-closing fence gates that open outward, with latches out
of the child’s reach.
- Learn CPR and proper rescue techniques.
- Avoid distractions while children are near water, including talking
on the phone, reading, preparing food or visiting with friends.
Set!
- Assign an adult "Water Watcher" who is committed to supervising the
pool area.
- Have phone access near the water area.
- Wear personal floatation devices that are Coast Guard approved.
Save!
- Call 9-1-1. If a child is missing, the first place to look is any
nearby pools. Upon finding a child in the water, first yell for help and
call 9-1-1. If someone is with you, have that person call 9-1-1.
- Throw! Don’t go. If the child is conscious use the mounted
life-saving ring or shepherd’s hook to provide the child with assistance
to the side, steps or shallow area of the pool. In the case of a
child who is unconscious or at the bottom of the pool, an adult should
enter the water feet first and rescue the child onto the nearest level
surface.
- Begin CPR. Determine if the child is breathing by tilting the head
back and putting your cheek over the child's mouth. If you don’t hear or
feel breathing or see the chest rising, begin CPR immediately. Continue
CPR until emergency help arrives. If you are alone and the child is not
breathing, start CPR. After one minute, call 9-1-1. Return to the child
and continue CPR until help arrives.
For more information on water safety
For additional water
safety tips, families can visit http://www.childrens.com/watersafety
for an interactive water safety guide that is informative for parents and
fun for children.
