Welcome to my interactive web blog. This page is meant to educate the general population on water safety. Objectives for this content are as follows
1- State why water safety is important.
2- List safety measures to take when in, on, and around water.
3- State what steps to take if/when a water accident occurs.
Why is water safety Important?
In 2007 the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) states there were 52 deaths by drowning in the state of Minnesota. The CDC also reports that one in five fatal drowning victims are children 14 and younger, and for every child who dies from drowning, another four receive emergency care for nonfatal submersion injuries. Nonfatal drowning can cause permanent brain damage as severe as a persistent vegetative state; long term disabilities such as learning disabilities and memory problems also occur. This can occur in lakes, pools, bathtubs, or a bucket of rain water in the yard. Water safety is important because water related deaths and injuries are completely preventable. Younger children, especially under the age of 4, males, minorities, and poor children tend to be at the highest risk of unintentional injury and accidents including drowning.
What safety measures can I take to prevent accidents?
In General:
-Know the laws and regulations: A legal measure that went into effect in 2005, requires children under age ten to wear a life jacket while boating in Minnesota.
- NEVER LEAVE YOUR CHILD UNATTENDED in or around water.
-Always stay within arm’s reach of your child when he/she is in or near water.
-Teach your child to never go near or in water without adult supervision.
-Learn CPR and have a phone available for emergency calls.
-Have appropriate equipment, such as reaching and throwing equipment, life jackets and a first aid kit.
- Enroll your children in swimming lessons at an early age, usually around 4.
-Always swim with a buddy.
-Select swimming sites that have lifeguards whenever possible.
At home:
-Ensure there is no standing water around your home; store buckets and containers upside down.
-Keep toilet seats closed and use toilet seat locks
-Make sure your pool or hot tub has four-sided fencing and a self-closing, self-latching gate to prevent a child from wandering into the pool area unsupervised. Hot tubs should be covered and locked when not in use.
-Install a door alarm and/or window alarm to warn you in a child wanders into the pool area unsupervised.
In open water:
-Teach your children to stay by the shore.
-Make sure you swim only in designated areas
-Teach your children the dangers of open water having uneven bottom and currents compared to a swimming pool.
While boating:
-Always have your children wear a life jacket approved by the U.S. Coast Guard while on boats or around open bodies of water or participating in water sports. The life jacket should fit snugly and not allow the child’s chin or ears to slip through the neck opening.
-Never drink alcoholic beverages while boating.
-Take a boating safety education course. The Minnesota Depatment of Natural Resources offers a home-study packet which will help prepare you for their boating safety exam.
What do I do if there is an accident?
First of all if a child is missing ALWAYS check the water first. Seconds can make a difference in death or disability. Secondly, know when to call 911, for example if the person is pulled from the water not breathing or discolored. Otherwise if the person is pulled from the water and begins breathing on their own they may be taken to the hospital for an evaluation by car. Third, be trained in CPR. For the best chances of survival, and minimal long term damage after water submersion, CPR should be initiated immediately even before emergency services are called. CPR should be continued until Emergency Services arrive on scene. For an overview of CPR and how it is performed check out this video from the American Heart Association.
Resources
Centers for Disease Control (CDC). (2007). 2007, Minnesota drowning deaths and rates per 100,000. Retrieved from http://webappa.cdc.gov/cgi-bin/broker.exe
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010). Injury prevention and control:Home and recreational safety. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/Water-Safety/waterinjuries-factsheet.html
Safe Kids Worldwide. (2009). Preventing injuries: At home, at play, and on the way. Drowning prevention. Retrieved from http://www.safekids.org/safety-basics/safety-resources-by-risk-area/drowning/
