Children & Water Safety

     The safety of children around water is a popular issue during the summer, but it is something parents and adults need to be aware of all year round. Water is prevalent in our everyday life and poses a danger to children, especially toddlers and infants, all the time. Studies have determined that drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death among children, and one that can be prevented most of the time through proper preparation and planning. Simple methods and protection can be applied both inside and outside your home to help keep your little ones from becoming a number in a statistic.
     The most prevalent drowning risk is within your home, as the risk can happen any time throughout the year. A baby or toddler is susceptible to drowning in as little as an inch of standing water. Making sure your child is under constant supervision is important. Taking your eyes off your child for even a few seconds can leave them in serious danger, especially around water. Never leave your child unattended in a bathtub, around the sink, or in a bathroom. If you must leave the area, take the child with you. Purchasing and applying child safety locks to areas containing water (toilet, sink, etc.) can also protect your child from exposure to these dangerous situations.
     Another danger around the home that has recently risen to the foreground involves small household buckets used for cleaning, such as mopping. The Consumer Product Safety Commissions determined that five gallon buckets prove most dangerous to children because they can fall headfirst into the bucket and get trapped underwater. If you use a bucket when cleaning, empty it out immediately after you are done.
     Private and community pools, beaches, and lakes are just a few of the many outdoor bodies of water children can encounter. Each location poses both similar and unique dangers that adults must be aware of in order to keep their children safe. These locations may appear safe merely due to crowds of lifeguards present, but drowning can occur in the most crowded of places, simply because nobody notices the victim until it is too late. Below are some preventative and precautionary tips to help ensure your child’s safety:

• Your child should always be supervised by you, the parent, or somebody designated by you to watch him. Having a designated “watcher” means your child is being looked after in case an emergency should arise.
• Learning to swim is the best course of action to staying safe in the water. Children that know how to swim have a better chance at survival in the event of a water emergency, such as getting caught in deep water. It is equally important for parents and guardians to learn how to swim as well, in case they are needed to save a child, or anyone for that matter, from a dangerous situation.
• In public swimming areas where a lifeguard is present, make sure your child is playing in the water where he can be seen.
• If you have an in-ground pool on your property, installing a fence at least four-feet high and keeping it locked will stop your child from wandering into the area unsupervised. If you have an over-ground pool, remove the ladder so your child can’t climb in.
• Keep toys away from pool areas to avoid enticing your child into that area.
• Learning CPR is an invaluable tool that can save a life. Anybody can be certified in it, and the worst thing that could happen from learning CPR is if you never have to use it. Please bear in mind that infant CPR differs from child/adult CPR.

     Dry drowning is a lesser-known danger, but studies have shown that ten to fifteen percent of all drowning occurrences are a result of this. Dry drowning is a delayed effect that can occur in a victim anywhere from one to twenty-four hours after ingesting a small amount of water into the lungs. Signs of a possible dry drowning victim include coughing, chest pain, shortness of breath, extreme tiredness, and uncharacteristic behavior. If such signs are visible after your child has been active in water (swimming, bathtub, etc.), consult a physician or bring your child to an emergency room immediately for treatment.

Anthony Ripo, Mommy & Me Correspondent