Water Safety and Drowning Prevention

Drowning is the second leading cause of death in children ages 1-14 and 6^th leading cause of death for all ages according to the CDC (1 in every 5 fatal drowning victims in the US).

Drowning is preventable. Contrary to what most people believe, drowning is a quick and silent killer. In the time it takes to get a towel (10 seconds), a child can become submerged. The majority of drowning occurs in family pools

• Fence Pools! Ensure pool gates/locks are in proper working order. Gates should swing shut to a locked position on its own.

  • The first line of defense is to install and use “Layers of Protection”.

  • Perimeter fences must me non-climbable, four-sided, and a minimum of 60 inches high.

  • Isolation fences must separate the pool/spa from the residence with openings no more than 4 inches wide to children can’t squeeze through the spaces. They must be non-climbable, four-sided, and a minimum of 48 inches high. 60 inches is recommended.

  • Gates must be kept closed and never propped open

  • Doors, windows, and gates must be locked, self-closing, and self-latching.

  • Tables / chairs / planters must be moved away from the pool.

  • Floating toys, balls, and sinking toys left in the pool are enticing.

• Homes that have pools should have a separate gate between back door of home and pool. Alarm systems should alert when back door opens. (Required by some local governments)

• Swim lessons!! In and around water safety. Teach your kids to not be in/ around bodies of water without supervision. Enroll your children in proven swimming lessons until they have mastered the 4 competitive strokes, treading water, sidestroke, and floating

• Always designate a WATER WATCHER. Lifeguards are great, but the best surveillance comes from a guardian watching the child one on one. This means no phone, no alcohol, and no distractions.

• Avoid breath holding games/ training while swimming. This can cause shallow water blackout

• Never Swim Alone! Use the Buddy System

• Know the local forecast before beginning recreational activities in bodies of water. This includes swimming, boating, skiing.

• Learn CPR. Prevention is always the best practice, but accidents happen. Learning CPR ensures that you are prepared. CPR knowledge is a great life skill. Hands-Only CPR is not designed for children.

• On average there are about ten deaths per day from unintentional drownings (non-boating related) in the United States

• On Average, about 350 people died each year from drowning in boating-related incidents.

• About one in five people who die from drowning are children 14 and younger.² For every child who dies from drowning, another five receive emergency department care for nonfatal submersion injuries.

• More than 50% of drowning victims treated in emergency departments (EDs) require hospitalization or transfer for further care. These nonfatal drowning injuries can cause severe brain damage that may result in long-term disabilities such as memory problems, learning disabilities, and permanent loss of basic functioning (e.g., permanent vegetative state).

• Children ages 1 to 4 have the highest drowning rates.

• Potentially, half of all boating deaths might be prevented with the use of life jackets