Drowning and near drowning incidents happen far too often in southern Nevada! Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death in Southern Nevada for young children. It is called the 'Silent Death' because there is often no cry for help and very little sound from splashing. Even if the child survives the incident, many suffer permanent brain damage. Everyone with children of their own or those who supervise children need to believe it can happen to them. Facts about childhood drowning dangers:
Most drowning deaths occur in the family pool. A child at greatest risk is between the ages of 18 months and four years. The most common time is between noon and dinner.
These tragedies often occur while one or both parents are home and there is a brief lapse in supervision.
Drownings can be prevented by following the A,B,C, and Ds:
"A" means adult supervision:
Designate a responsible person to keep children in direct line of sight and maintain a distance of no more than an arm’s length at all times the child is in the water.
Look in the pool area first if a child is missing. Get a lifeguard for social gatherings. In a bath tub, a child can drown in the time it takes to answer the door or telephone.
"B" means Barriers:
Install a non-climbable, four-sided four-foot isolation fence that separates the pool/spa from the residence. Openings should be no more than four inches wide so children cannot squeeze through the spaces.
Use self-closing, self-latching, gates and side gates leading to the pool/spa area, with latches above a child's reach (54" high). The gate should open away from the pool. Never prop gates open.
Power operated pool safety covers are the safest and easiest to use. (Solar/floating pool covers are not safety covers and do not provide adequate protection. Children can slip underneath and become trapped out of sight.)
Secure and lock all doors (including "doggie" doors), windows, and gates leading to the pool/spa area when not in use. (Doors and windows could be alarmed to alert family members when opened. Newly developed delayed alarms allow adults to pass through doorways without triggering an alert while children set off the signal. (Small children can’t reach the reset button.)
Remove items that could be used for climbing (tales, chairs, planters) away from fences.
"C" means Classes (age appropriate swimming lessons and CPR)
Enroll children in age-appropriate swimming lessons by a qualified instructor.
Teach children to:
-leave the water if the adult leaves the area
-enter the water only while wearing a swim suit
-first enter the water in the shallow end
Require parents, grandparents and care providers to know CPR, rescue techniques and how to call 911.
"D" means Devices:
Have a poolside phone- it allows access to 911 and avoids leaving a child unattended to answer a phone call. Post the 911 emergency number, your home phone number and home address by every telephone.
Install a life saving ring, shepherd's hook and CPR instructions by the pool. Rescue equipment should be in good repair.
Children must wear a Coast Guard approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD) around any body of open water.
There must be a life jacket for each person in a boat-a non-swimmer should always wear theirs.
Also, Never…
· leave a child alone near any body of water in which a child's nose and mouth can be submerged.
· use" floaties" or other inflatable toys as life jackets or substitutes for adult supervision.
· leave toys in or around the pool/spa.
· consider children to be 'drown-proof' despite swimming skills, previous swimming lessons, or experience.
Finally,
Most children drown in their own backyard swimming pool, but others drown in bath tubs, buckets, and toilets. Small children are top-heavy, and they don't have the upper body strength to lift themselves out of one of these dangerous situations.
Always have a "designated child watcher". Learn to swim. Never swim alone, or while under the influence of alcohol or medications. Never swim when thunder or lightning is present. Never dive into unfamiliar or shallow bodies of water.
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