Water Safety…How to keep your children safe from drowning.

Water Safety…How to keep your children safe from drowning.
Drownings happen very quickly!

Children less than a year old are more likely to drown in a bathroom or a bucket.
Children 1-4 years old are more likely to drown in a pool.
Children ages 5 and older are more likely to drown in natural water…ponds, lakes and rivers.

Here are some misconceptions related to drowning:

I will hear my child if they start to drown or are in trouble.

Drowning is a silent killer, there can be very little splashing, waving or screaming.

Nothing will happen if I take my attention away for a couple of minutes.

Drowning is quick, once your child begins to struggle you may have less than a minute to react.

If there is a lifeguard present I do not need to worry or pay attention as much.

A lifeguard’s job is to enforce pool rules, scan, rescue and resuscitate…they are not keeping an eye on specific children.

Remember…toddlers are top heavy, so once they have gone head first into a bucket or a toilet, they are unable to pick up their heads!!
There are locks and latches available at big box stores and hardware stores to help keep your child safe.

Water Safety Sources

1) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). CDC WISQARS 2015-2018. Retrieved June 16, 2020 from https://www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars/fatal.html

2) American Academy of Pediatrics. (2019). Prevention of Drowning. Retrieved September 18, 2020 from https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/143/5/e20190850

3) Safe Kids Worldwide. (2020). Water Safety for Babies. Retrieved September 18, 2020 from https://www.safekids.org/safetytips/field_age/babies-0%E2%80%9312- months/field risks/water-and-drowning

4) Safe Kids Worldwide. (2020). Water Safety for Home. Retrieved September 18, 2020 from https://www.safekids.org/watersafety