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Parents
urged to learn their ABC & D’s to Prevent
Accidental Drowning
Southern
Nevadans are blessed to have “swimming pool” weather
practically year round; however, with the summer
approaching, it’s a good time to remind everyone that
prevention is the best protection against childhood
drowning.
The
Southern Nevada Health District urges parents and
caregivers to practice the A, B, C & D’s of
drowning prevention:
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A |
Adult
supervision, it is
recommended that a parent is within arm’s length
when children are in a pool, bathtub or other
water sources
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B |
Barriers
to the pool, such as
fences or gate alarms
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C |
Classes,
such as swimming and
CPR courses
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D |
Devices
such as personal
flotation devices, life jackets and rescue tools
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In
2006, approximately 80 percent of drowning or
near-drowning victims were children aged 4 years old or
younger.
Drowning
is a silent killer and a majority of deaths occur in a
pool or spa; however, any amount of water can pose a
hazard, including a bathtub. In just 10 seconds,
or the time it takes to grab a towel, a small child can
become submerged and in the two minutes it can take to
answer the telephone, a child can lose consciousness.
Twenty
percent of near-drowning accidents that require
hospitalization result in severe and permanent
disability. A majority of these accidents occur
between 4 p.m.
and 7 p.m.
when one or both parents are at home to supervise their
children. Oftentimes, the victim was last seen in
the house or away from the pool area.
In
addition to supervision, experts recommend “barriers
of protection.” A non-climbable five-foot fence
that separates a pool or spa from the residence should
be installed and openings should not be more than four
inches wide so children cannot squeeze through the
spaces. Gates should be self-latching and never left
unlocked. Other recommended precautions include
power-operated pool safety covers, rescue equipment and
CPR training. While these safeguards are
important, the health district stresses that these
precautions should not be used as a substitute for
constant supervision.
For
more information, contact the Southern Nevada Health
District at (702) 759-1000.
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