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Water Safety

Posted on: 07/28/2009

WATER SAFETY
  Nicole Mackey, PNP

Summer is a great time for exercise and a wonderful opportunity to catch up with friends and family.  We enjoy time around the pool, at the park, at sports events and/or camping.  Safety should always be first and the upcoming article will touch on water safety.

No matter the water source (bathtub, pond, pool, baby pool, lake, beach), kids need constant supervision.  Young children can drown in as little as two (2) inches of water.  They must be watched at all times when they are near water.

Owning a pool is great during the warm weather.  It is, however, a huge responsibility when it comes to water safety.  It is a good idea to enroll children age four and up in swim lessons. Never assume that a child who knows how to swim is safe in a pool.  A child with great swimming skills is still at risk.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) outlines the rules and recommendations for fencing in your pool.  Fences are the best measure of protection.  There are other devices such as pool alarms that are reliable, but they have not been proven by the American Academy of Pediatrics to be an effective form of protection from drowning.

It is important to have a coastguard approved life vest.  They are sized by age and weight.  Children under the age of five (5) should have a strap that goes between their legs, as well as a head collar support.  The vest should fit snuggly and be used whenever they are near water.  Water wings or other inflatable arm devices are NOT effective protection against drowning.

Lakes, ponds and beaches have a lot of hidden dangers.  They are very shallow near the bank and can abruptly drop off.  They also can have broken glass or other sharp objects that can cut a child.  It is a good idea to have a child wear water shoes to protect them. It is also not uncommon for children to get caught up in weeds which can cause them to panic and increase the risk of drowning.  Make sure you follow directions from lifeguards.  Teach children to never stand with their back to a wave as they are very unpredictable.  Water is fun but, again, safety is number one!

Infants less than one year of age should really not be in the water.  It is fine to have them dunk their feet or to be submerged from the waist down when they are a little older (9 months).  Babies younger than that are not good at regulating their temperature. Water less than 85 degrees can cause them to lose heat quickly and put them at risk for hypothermia.

Survival of a water accident is dependent on time. If you find a child in the water, immediately remove the child and call for help.  Have someone else, if available, call 911 and start CPR.  If you think there might be a neck injury, keep the child on his/her back while the neck and shoulders are immobilized with your hands and forearms until trained personnel arrive.  Do not let the child move.

Water brings a lot of fun and a lot of responsibility.  All children need to be supervised, even if they are good swimmers or are wearing a life vest.  Tragedy can strike at any time, any age and at any skill level.