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Drowning and near drowning incidents happen far
too often in southern Nevada! Drowning is the
leading cause of unintentional death in Southern
Nevada for young children. It is called the
'Silent Death' because there is often no cry for
help and very little sound from splashing. Even
if the child survives the incident, many suffer
permanent brain damage. Everyone with children
of their own or those who supervise children
need to believe it can happen to them.
Facts about childhood drowning dangers:
Most drowning deaths occur in the family
pool. A child at greatest risk is between the ages
of 18 months and four years. The most common time is between noon and
dinner.
These tragedies often occur while one or both
parents are home and there is a brief lapse in
supervision.
Drownings can be prevented by following the
A,B,C, and Ds:
"A" means adult supervision:
Designate a responsible person to keep
children in direct line of sight and maintain a distance of no more than an arm’s length at
all times the child is in the water.
Look in the pool area first if a child is
missing. Get a lifeguard for social gatherings.
In a bath tub, a child can drown in the time
it takes to answer the door or telephone.
"B" means Barriers:
Install a non-climbable, four-sided four-foot
isolation fence that separates the pool/spa from
the residence. Openings should be no more than
four inches wide so children cannot squeeze
through the spaces.
Use self-closing, self-latching, gates and
side gates leading to the pool/spa area, with
latches above a child's reach (54" high).
The gate should open away from the pool. Never
prop gates open.
Power operated pool safety covers are the
safest and easiest to use. (Solar/floating pool
covers are not safety covers and do not provide
adequate protection. Children can slip
underneath and become trapped out of sight.)
Secure and lock all doors (including
"doggie" doors), windows, and gates
leading to the pool/spa area when not in use.
(Doors and windows could be alarmed to alert
family members when opened. Newly developed
delayed alarms allow adults to pass through
doorways without triggering an alert while
children set off the signal. (Small children can’t
reach the reset button.)
Remove items that could be used for climbing
(tales, chairs, planters) away from fences.
"C" means Classes (age appropriate
swimming lessons and CPR)
Enroll children in age-appropriate swimming
lessons by a qualified instructor.
Teach children to:
-leave the water if the adult leaves the area
-enter the water only while wearing a swim
suit
-first enter the water in the shallow end
Require parents, grandparents and care
providers to know CPR, rescue techniques and how
to call 911.
"D" means Devices:
Have a poolside phone- it allows access to
911 and avoids leaving a child unattended to
answer a phone call. Post the 911 emergency
number, your home phone number and home address
by every telephone.
Install a life saving ring, shepherd's hook
and CPR instructions by the pool. Rescue
equipment should be in good repair.
Children must wear a Coast Guard approved
Personal Flotation Device (PFD) around any body
of open water.
There must be a life jacket for each person
in a boat-a non-swimmer should always wear
theirs.
Also, Never…
· leave a child alone near any body of water
in which a child's nose and mouth can be
submerged.
· use" floaties" or other
inflatable toys as life jackets or substitutes
for adult supervision.
· leave toys in or around the pool/spa.
· consider children to be 'drown-proof' despite
swimming skills, previous swimming lessons, or
experience.
Finally,
Most children drown in their own backyard
swimming pool, but others drown in bath tubs,
buckets, and toilets. Small children are
top-heavy, and they don't have the upper body
strength to lift themselves out of one of these
dangerous situations.
Always have a "designated child
watcher". Learn to swim. Never swim alone, or while under the
influence of alcohol or medications. Never swim when thunder or lightning is
present. Never dive into unfamiliar or shallow bodies
of water.
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