More 350 infants and toddlers drown in swimming pools each year nationwide, the majority in the summer months of June, July and August; most in backyard pools. Here are some swimming pool safety tips from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).:
- Never leave a child unsupervised near a pool;
- Instruct
babysitters about potential hazards to young children in and around
swimming pools and the need for constant supervision
- Completely fence
the pool. Install self-closing and self-latching gates. Position
latches out of reach of young children. Keep all doors and windows
leading to the pool area secure to prevent small children from getting
to the pool. Effective barriers and locks are necessary preventive
measures, but there is no substitute for supervision.
- Do not consider
young children "drown proof" because they have had swimming lessons;
young children should always be watched carefully while swimming. (For the American Academy of Pediatrics' revised policy statement on early swimming lessons, click here ).
- Do not use flotation devices as a substitute for supervision.
- Never
use a pool with its pool cover partially in place, since children may
become entrapped under it. Remove the cover completely.
- Place tables and chairs well away from the pool fence to prevent children from climbing into the pool area.
- Keep toys away from the pool area because a young child playing with the toys could accidentally fall in the water.
- Remove steps to above ground pools when not in use.
- Have
a telephone at poolside to avoid having to leave children unattended in
or near the pool to answer a telephone elsewhere. Keep emergency
numbers at the poolside telephone.
- Learn CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) .
- Keep rescue equipment by the pool.
Second leading cause of death
According to the Consumer Product
Safety Commission (CPSC):
- 350 children under the age of five drown in pools each year nationwide
- The majority of the deaths occur in June, July and August; most in
backyard pools.
- Among
unintentional injuries, drowning is the second leading cause of death
to this age group after motor vehicle accidents. In some states such as
California, Florida and Arizona, drowning is the leading cause of
accidental death to children under five.
- While drowning rates have fallen steadily from 2.68 per 100,000
in 1985 to 1.32 per 100,000 in 2006, drowning continues to be the
second leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 19, claiming the
lives of roughly 1,100 children in 2006. Toddlers and teenaged boys are
at greatest risk.
- Another
2,600 children are treated in hospital emergency rooms each year for
near-drowning incidents. Some of these submersion accidents result in
permanent brain damage.
CPSC requests that consumers
report incidents of drowning or "near drowning" by calling the
Commission toll-free at 1-800638-2772.
Teaser title:
Swimming Pool Safety Tips
Teaser text:
More 350 infants and toddlers drown in swimming pools each year nationwide, the majority in the summer months of June, July and August; most in backyard pools. Here are some swimming pool safety tips from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
Links:
[1] https://mail.momsteam.com/node/3038
[2] https://mail.momsteam.com/node/384
[3] https://mail.momsteam.com/sports/swimming/safety/grim-statistics-on-child-drownings
[4] https://mail.momsteam.com/health-safety/water-safety-and-drowning-prevention-advice-American-Academy-Pediatrics
[5] https://mail.momsteam.com/team-of-experts/gwenn-schurgin-okeeffe-md-faap/sports-safety/diving-off-diving-boards-is-dangerous-for-kids
[6] https://mail.momsteam.com/health-safety/water-safety-teaching-kids-swim-asap-key-says-olympic-swimming-great-lenny-krayzelburg
[7] https://mail.momsteam.com/health-safety/-pool-spa-drains-body-entrapment-hair-entanglement-preventable-hazards