How to Prevent Pediatric Drowning In and Around the Home Video by CIRP

Drowning can happen very quickly, silently and in just inches of water. Every year in the United States, more than 1,000 children die from drowning and many more suffer life-changing injuries. Although a drowning can happen anywhere there is water, common places in and around the home where a drowning may occur include the bathroom, kitchen, and backyard pool or hot tub. The following tips can help parents and caregivers prevent a drowning:
• Never leave children alone in a bathtub, pool or near any body of water. Stay within an arm's reach of infants toddlers and weak swimmers in water at all time.
• Drain the bathtub and wading pool immediately after using them. Empty buckets and coolers and store them upside down.
• Install a 4-sided fence around hot tubs and pools. The fence should be at least 4 feet high and have a gate that closes and latches on its own.
• Have children take swimming lessons. Take your child's maturity and physical limitations into account when deciding if they are ready for swimming lessons. Most children are ready for swimming lessons when are 4 or older. Lessons might be helpful for younger children as well, but not all children are ready at the same age. Parents should decide when their child is ready.
• Remember that even if a child knows how to swim, it does not mean he will not drown. Even the best swimmers are not drown-proof.
• Keep a phone by the pool at all times in the case of emergencies.
• Learn CPR. When seconds count, knowing CPR can save a life.
These are just some basic tips. For more information on drowning prevention, please visit our website at injurycenter.org.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• pediatric
• drowning
• prevention
• swimming
• safety
• injury
• research
• policy
• CIRP
• Center
• for
• Injury
• Research
• and
• Policy
• http://injuryresearch.net