Children and Swimming: Caution Is The Watchword
Six children drowned in Lee County in 2003, four in 2002. Five died in pools, one in a lake and one in a bathtub. Ten unnecessary deaths. Nationwide, approximately 900 adolescent lives are claimed each year by drowning – all preventable tragedies.
Florida is one of ten states where drowning surpasses all other cause of death to children age 14 and younger, a fact that should lead us to greater awareness of the dangers that come with summer weather. Lee County counts eighty thousand children fourteen and younger, a huge number of children and preschoolers ready to play and cool off at beaches and pools.
The majority of drownings and near-drownings occur in residential swimming pools, and without belaboring numbers, it’s fair to say that our county has more than its share of pools and beaches."Water safety can never be taught too early or too often," says Diane Holm, Drowning Prevention Coordinator for the Lee County Health Department. "Parents of infants, from the time that they become mobile, should be talking, reading and stressing water safety. In fact, two recent books have published specifically geared to be read by children - one by the American Red Cross and one from Starfish Aquatics, that teach young children and at the same time remind parents of the critical importance of water safety."
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Nationwide, approximately 900 adolescent lives are claimed each year by drowning – all preventable tragedies. | |||||
A recent study entitled Clear Danger: A
National Study of Childhood Drowning and Related Attitudes and Behaviors,
cosponsored by the National Safe Kids Coalition and Johnson & Johnson, finds
that many adults aren’t properly fencing their home swimming pools,
requiring children to use flotation devices, or teaching their children how
to
swim. Yet, a majority of parents interviewed say they’re "not at all
worried" or "not very worried" about their child drowning, and believe that
there are some circumstances where it is acceptable for a child to swim
unsupervised. Perhaps these parents aren’t aware that nearly eighty percent
of drowning victims are missing from sight for 5 minutes or less.
A child can drown in the time it takes to answer a phone.
Surprising facts: research shows that 88 percent of those who drowned nationwide between 2001 and 2002 were swimming or playing under the supervision of another person (usually a family member) – and nearly twenty percent of deaths occurred in public pools with certified lifeguards present. "Adults need to actively supervise children around water. This means watching and listening at all times and staying close enough to intervene in an emergency," says Dr. Martin Eichelberger, director of Emergency Trauma Services at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
Points to keep in mind regarding swimming and your child’s safety:
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