7 Ways to Prevent a Child (or Anyone) from Drowning

The joy and excitement of spending long summer days outside by the pool, the lake, and even the ocean are upon us. But along with the pleasures of summer’s fragrant scents and its various outdoor activities comes a few cautions every parent should review before venturing out on their next swim activity with the little ones.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an average of two children under the age of 14 die every day due to drowning.  In fact, fatal drowning remains the second-leading cause of unintentional injury-related death in children, after motor-vehicle crashes. For every child who dies from drowning, another five receive emergency-room care for nonfatal submersion injuries. More than 50% of those children suffer brain damage, which often leads to long-term disabilities such as memory problems, learning disabilities, and permanent loss of basic functioning (e.g., permanent vegetative state).

What do we need to know as parents to prevent our little ones from becoming a statistic?  The American Heart Association touts the first link in the Pediatric Chain of Survival as the prevention of injuries. Prevention is particularly important because unintentional injuries are the number-one killer of children in America, and among these unintentional injuries is drowning.

Let’s Review These Simple Preventive Measures:

1 Designate a responsible adult to supervise children when they are in and around water. Don’t rely on a lifeguard for this task as they have multitudes of children to observe. Remember, it is ultimately our responsibility, as the parent, to keep our children safe. 

2 Swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning among children; however, even formal swimming lessons are not 100% fool-proof in preventing drowning, so read on.

3 Wearing U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets are specifically designed to keep your child’s head above water.  Foam noodles and air-filled “water wings” should not be used in place of an approved flotation device.

4 Using the buddy system is another measure that adds an additional layer of safety in the water. Spend a few minutes to teach children about the importance of staying close by their buddy at all times.

5 Know the weather before swimming or boating.

6 If you have a pool at home, install a four-sided, locked pool fence that completely separates the pool area from the house and yard.

7 When at the beach, know the meaning of and obey warnings represented by colored beach flags (these can vary from beach to beach).

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Take Time to Learn CPR

CPR performed by bystanders has been shown to save lives and improve outcomes in drowning victims. The more quickly CPR is started, the better the chance of an improved outcome. In fact, for every minute that passes in which a drowning victim does NOT receive CPR, their chance of survival drops by 7–10%.  There are many CPR classes available in communities nationwide; however, if you’re unable to attend a class, at the very least, know these basic steps:

Step 1

Call 911 immediately (if someone else is with you tell them to call 911)

Step 2

Push hard and fast on the center of the chest to the beat of the song “Stayin’ Alive” until emergency medical services arrives. 

So you see, CPR is not hard to learn, and you do not have to be certified in CPR to help in an emergency. You simply need to be willing. You can save a life. 

Be sure to share these life-saving skills with your family and friends while you enjoy all the scents and splendor that summer has to offer.