Drowning is the number one cause of injury-related death in children four and under. Each year, thousands of children in the U.S. suffer non fatal near-drowning injuries, according to child safety advocacy group Safe Kids.
It doesn’t take much for tragedy to strike. Kids can drown in just two inches of water.
Whether in a pool or some other large body of water, or even just in the bathtub, children should be constantly supervised when in or near water. It’s also important for adults to know how to respond in a water emergency.
With summer in full swing, now is the time to brush up on your water safety skills. Read the safety tips and watch the video below. It will only take a few minutes and might one day help you save a child’s life.
Top Tips
- Watch kids when they are in or around water, without being distracted. Keep young children within arm’s reach of an adult.
- Empty all tubs, buckets, containers and kiddie pools immediately after use. Store them upside down so they don’t collect water.
- Close toilet lids and use toilet seat locks to prevent drowning. Keep doors to bathrooms and laundry rooms closed.
- Install fences around home pools. A pool fence should surround all sides of the pool and be at least four feet tall with self-closing and self-latching gates.
- Know what to do in an emergency. Learning CPR and basic water rescue skills may help you save a life.
If you do encounter a drowning child, delivering CPR can make the difference between life and death. The video below shows you how.
Video produced by: Daniel Purcell/Now Habersham
