Spring Break is here, and that means many families will enjoy activities in and around the water.
But parents, grandparents, and chaperones should be aware of the potential dangers.
Drowning is the leading cause of injury-related death among children ages 1 to 4, and it is the third leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children 19 and under.
In 2018, 918 children under age 19 drowned, and more than 7,000 were seen in the emergency room.
Habersham County Emergency Services encourages each family or group to select a designated Water Watcher whose sole focus is to watch the children and teens playing in and near the water.
That means no texting, watching videos, or doing anything else but watching the youth who are playing and also stopping potentially dangerous activities.
After a designated time, 15, 20, or 30 minutes, that adult can then hand off their duties to another adult.
The American Red Cross describes an appropriate Water Watcher as at least 16 years of age.
According to the Red Cross, the designated Water Watcher should know the signs of someone in distress with the ability to perform a rescue if needed.
Water Watcher cards may be printed at redcross/waterwatchercard.org.
