With the arrival of hot summer days, children will be cooling off in the family or neighbor's pool. This article offers tips for parents on pool safety to reduce the risk of an accidental drowning.
With the arrival of hot summer days, pools provide children a respite from the heat and hours of fun entertainment. It is also a time of year when accidental drownings increase. However, as parents, we must be diligent in safeguarding our children from drowning in our pools. A child submerged for only 2 minutes will loose consciousness and 4-6 minutes can mean irreversible brain damage.
Statistics on Accidental Drowning
Statistics demonstrate that we are not doing enough to protect our young children from accidental drowning. Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional death among children between the ages of 1 and 14. It is the number one cause of death among young children in California and Florida.
Most of these children drown in residential areas. The depth of the water can be as little as an inch deep and therefore even a bucket of water can be deadly especially to a toddler. According to Safe Kids, over 800 children under the age of 14 die as a result of drowning while over 2500 children under 14 are treated in Emergency Rooms every year. Nearly 15% of children who nearly drown end up dying and 20% suffer from irreversible brain damage.
Drowning can occur quickly. Most happen when the child is left alone or unsupervised even briefly such as in the amount of time it takes to answer the phone. Numerous children who drown were being supervised by their parents. Yet most parents recall last seeing the child in the house when in fact the child was in the pool. Within 2 minutes the child will become unconscious and brain damage occurs in 4-6 minutes. Only about 20% of children who survive are found in 2 minutes. The majority of children almost 80% are not found until 10 minutes after being submerged.
Statistics show that children under the age of 4 account for over 300 swimming pool drownings every year. Over half of these drownings occur in the child's own pool. These children were under parents' supervision, were last seen in the house, and were missing for five minutes.
Over 200 children under 4 years of age have drowned in hot tubs and spas. This is another safety issue that parents need to address. There are security features such as locking spa covers that should be utilized.
Most parents are responsible people and think that it cannot happen to them. But it can. The swiftness of this kind of accident and its outcome is devastating. Parents need to make rules regarding the pool and strictly enforce them.
Preventative Measures
As frightening as these statistics are, drowning is preventable. According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, there are several preventative measures parents can take to reduce the possibility of an accidental drowning. Grandparents and babysitters should also be aware of child safety measures and know CPR. Never leave a child unsupervised in or around a pool, even for a minute.
Never leave a child alone in the pool area to answer the phone or do some other errand. If you must leave the pool, take your child with you and remember to lock the gate. Keep your eyes on your child at all times.
All children should learn to swim especially if you live near water or have access to a pool. Your local YMCA or Red Cross offers swimming classes.
Do not depend upon personal flotation devices such as "water wings" or toys to protect your child. These devices can lose air or slip out underneath the child. You should not depend upon the fact that your child has had swimming lessons. Kids panic and forget necessary training.
Limited access to a pool is mandatory in many states. A four to five foot fence with a locked gate surrounding the pool may be required. Even when not bound by law, if you have a pool, you should install a fence and gate.
A pool cover and a door or gate alarm can be life saving. This adds another layer of protection.
Never dive into a pool that is not at least 9 feet deep. A serious head or neck injury could occur if you should strike the bottom.
Keep toys especially those with wheels away from the pool as it is too easy to drive a tricycle over the edge of a pool.
Learn CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) and post CPR instructions near the pool.
Keep rescue equipment such as a pole, rope, or flotation device near the pool.
Have a phone with emergency numbers posted near the pool.
Safety Pool Products
You can inspect these products and see how they work at a local pool or pool fence company:
One device is the Floating Pool Alarm with remote alarm that can be heard in the house. The water needs to be disturbed for this to work, so if your child slips into the pool, he might not make a large enough splash to set off the alarm.
Another alarm type is the Infrared Alarm System which detects motion in the pool.
The third is a Removable Safety Fence usually made out of mesh. This has been proven to be an adequate safety barrier.
Survival Training for children
Teach children to roll over and float on their back. Also, instruct children, especially toddlers who can learn this to get to the side and hang on. Check with swim class instructors for the proper method.
What to do if a child is found in the pool unconscious:
Call 911
Initiate CPR
Parents can erect layers of barriers to reduce the risk of accidental drowning. Every obstruction that you place makes it that much more difficult for your child to drown. Fences, door alarms, swimming lessons all provide an element of safety.
Your local chapter of the Red Cross offers pamphlets as well as CPR and swimming classes. Fencing companies and pool companies are also good sources for safety products. But beware: Do not let yourself be lulled into a false sense of security by installing pool safety products. These are only one layer of barrier.
Remember the most important element is to supervise closely any children in a pool. Never leave children alone.