Water Safety

Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional-injury related death among children ages 1-4 years and children 10-14 years. Drowning is the third leading cause of death for infants less than 1 year. Each year, more than 830 children ages 14 and under die as a result of unintentional drowning.

Many drownings and near-drownings happen when children are left unattended in or near a pool or bathtub. Young children are also at risk for drowning in large (5-gallon) pails and buckets that are being used for household chores.

Drowning usually occurs quickly and silently. Two minutes following submersion, a child will lose consciousness. Irreversible brain damage occurs after four to six minutes and determines the immediate and long-term survival of a child.

Prevention

Follow these safety tips to prevent unintentional drownings:

• Stay with your child when he is in the bathtub, even if he is with an older sibling. If you must leave the bathroom, for example to answer the phone, wrap your child in a towel and take him/her with you.
• Empty out buckets as soon as you are done with your chores. If you are just taking a break put the bucket where your child cannot reach it.
• Keep your child in view and make sure she swims with a buddy.
• Install four-sided isolation fencing, that is at least four feet high, and that has a locking, self-latching gate, around swimming pools or spas.
• Wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD) when on a boat or near open bodies of water.
• Provide swimming lessons for your family.
• Learn CPR (including infant CPR) and keep a telephone with emergency numbers poolside. Don't leave the pool to answer the phone.
• Remove toys from the pool immediately after use. Children may attempt to reach toys or floatation devices and fall in.

NEVER:

• Leave children unattended near water, including large buckets or pails.
• Assume inflatable toys or rings will keep your child afloat. They are not safety devices.
• Trust a child to watch another child. Always assign a responsible adult to supervise children in the pool.
• Leave the fence surrounding the pool unlocked.
• Keep electrical appliances near water.
• Allow a child age 14 or under to operate a personal watercraft.

DROWNING IS SILENT. NO SCREAMING. NO SPLASHING. CHILDREN DROWN WITHOUT A SOUND.

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