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s summertime approaches,
it’s only natural for kids to be in and around water. But because it takes
only three seconds for a child to drown, it is important for parents to
think about water safety.
Drowning remains
the second leading cause of unintentional injury death to children in
Dallas County. Typically, children who drown are younger than 5, and
most drown in residential pools.
For every child
who drowns, about four nearly drown, says Patti Rhynders, who manages
the Children’s Medical Center of Dallas’ injury prevention education
and outreach programs. “People think that ‘nearly drowned’ means a happy
outcome, but some of these children later die and many are left with
severe permanent disabilities,” Rhynders says.
Here are some steps
to ensure a child’s safety around water:
- Barriers are
the single most important way to prevent young children from drowning.
– The most
important barrier is a non-climbable five-foot fence that completely
surrounds the pool and isolates it from the yard.
– Place alarms on doors and windows leading to the water, installed
about five feet above ground level so that a child cannot reach
them.
– Install self-closing and self-latching fence gates, side gates
and doors leading to the pool/spa area, with latches above a child’s
reach (54 inches). Gates should open outward.
– Install pool safety covers (power-operated are the safest and
easiest to use).
- Assign an adult
“water watcher” to supervise the pool/spa area, especially during
social gatherings. Assign a second adult to maintain constant visual
contact with children in the pool. Don’t assume someone else is watching
a child. For older kids, it’s wise to have a buddy system when swimming.
- Never leave a
child alone near a pool or spa. Never leave a child alone while talking
on the phone.
- Don’t rely on
swimming lessons, life preservers or other equipment to make water
safe for a child.
- If a child is
missing, look in the pool first. For more information on pool safety,
visit the Children’s Web site at www.childrens.com.
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If
you own a pool:
- Insist
anyone in the home who is older than 14 years of age have current
certification in infant/child CPR, including the babysitter.
Communicate pool safety measures with the babysitter as well.
- Learn how
to swim and learn rescue techniques.
- Mount rescue
equipment by the pool (lifesaving ring, shepherd’s hook and
CPR sign). Many float-type toys (arm rings and inflatable rings)
are thought to be lifesavers. They aren’t. They are toys and
should be used only as toys.
- Post the
9-1-1 emergency phone number on your phones. Have a phone near
the pool area.
- Teach everyone
who lives in your home or who uses the pool how to use safety
equipment and call 9-1-1.
If you
find a child in the pool:
- Yell for
help and get the child out of the pool and onto the pool deck.
- If someone
is with you, have her call 9-1-1. Determine if the child is
breathing: Tilt back the head; if you don’t hear or feel breathing
or see the chest rising, begin CPR immediately. Continue CPR
until emergency help arrives.
- If you
are alone and the child is not breathing, start CPR. After one
minute, call 9-1-1. Return to the child and continue CPR until
help arrives.
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