WATER SAFETY INFORMATION AND PREVENTION. Training Objectives Recognize risk factors associated with unintentional drowning Recognize risk factors associated.

WATER SAFETYWATER SAFETYINFORMATION AND INFORMATION AND

PREVENTIONPREVENTION

Training ObjectivesTraining Objectives

Recognize risk factors associated Recognize risk factors associated with unintentional drowningwith unintentional drowning

Identify ways to prevent in-home Identify ways to prevent in-home drowningdrowning

Identify ways to prevent swimming Identify ways to prevent swimming pool drowningpool drowning

Unintentional DrowningsUnintentional Drownings

In the United States, In the United States, drowning is the second drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths among injury-related deaths among children, taking more than children, taking more than 2,000 young lives each year. 2,000 young lives each year.

Unintentional DrowningsUnintentional Drownings

Young children, age four and Young children, age four and under, have the highest under, have the highest drowning death rate. Of the drowning death rate. Of the 13 Missouri children who 13 Missouri children who drowned in 2006, six (46%) drowned in 2006, six (46%) were age four and under.were age four and under.

Missouri Child Deaths Due to Missouri Child Deaths Due to Unintentional DrowningUnintentional Drowning

In 2006, a 10-month-old child was In 2006, a 10-month-old child was left to play in the bathtub while her left to play in the bathtub while her mother finished getting dressed. mother finished getting dressed. When the mother returned to the When the mother returned to the bathtub, the baby was facedown in bathtub, the baby was facedown in four inches of water.four inches of water.


In 2006, a large group of children were on In 2006, a large group of children were on an outing at a state park. Five of the an outing at a state park. Five of the children were swimming in the river when children were swimming in the river when one of them began to drown; when the four one of them began to drown; when the four other children attempted to help, they, too other children attempted to help, they, too were caught in the undertow and all five were caught in the undertow and all five drowned. There were no adults with the drowned. There were no adults with the children when they went into the water and children when they went into the water and none of them were wearing a personal none of them were wearing a personal floatation device. floatation device.


In 2006, a 15-month-old was sent outside to In 2006, a 15-month-old was sent outside to play with his six-year-old brother. Less than play with his six-year-old brother. Less than ten minutes later, the six-year-old found the ten minutes later, the six-year-old found the toddler in the swimming pool, where he had toddler in the swimming pool, where he had drowned.drowned.

In 2006, two young children wandered out of In 2006, two young children wandered out of the house and drowned in a swimming pool, the house and drowned in a swimming pool, while their parents and grandparents were while their parents and grandparents were occupied watching a television program.occupied watching a television program.

Information About DrowningInformation About Drowning

The American Academy of The American Academy of Pediatrics states that children Pediatrics states that children must be watched by an adult at must be watched by an adult at all times when in or near water. all times when in or near water. Children can drown in swimming Children can drown in swimming pools, other bodies of water, and pools, other bodies of water, and standing water around the home. standing water around the home.

Information About DrowningInformation About Drowning Examples of standing water: Examples of standing water: ▪▪Bathtubs, even with baby bathtub Bathtubs, even with baby bathtub

“supporting ring” devices“supporting ring” devices ▪▪Buckets and pails, especially 5-gallon Buckets and pails, especially 5-gallon

buckets and diaper pailsbuckets and diaper pails ▪▪Ice chests with melted iceIce chests with melted ice ▪▪ToiletsToilets ▪▪Hot tubs, spas, and whirlpoolsHot tubs, spas, and whirlpools ▪▪Fish ponds, fountainsFish ponds, fountains ▪▪Irrigation ditches, post holes, and Irrigation ditches, post holes, and

wellswells

How to Prevent In-Home How to Prevent In-Home Drowning DeathsDrowning Deaths

There are many things that can be done There are many things that can be done to prevent In-Home drowning deaths. to prevent In-Home drowning deaths. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission suggests the following: Commission suggests the following:

▪▪Never leave a baby alone in a bathtub Never leave a baby alone in a bathtub

even for a second. Always keep a baby even for a second. Always keep a baby

in arm’s reach. in arm’s reach.


▪▪Never leave young children alone or Never leave young children alone or with young siblings in a bathtub even with young siblings in a bathtub even if you are using a bath seat or ring. if you are using a bath seat or ring. Children can drown quickly and Children can drown quickly and silently. silently.

▪▪Keep the toilet lid down, and keep Keep the toilet lid down, and keep young children out of the bathroom young children out of the bathroom when unsupervised. Consider placing when unsupervised. Consider placing a latch on the bathroom door out of a latch on the bathroom door out of reach of young children. reach of young children.


▪▪Be sure all containers that hold Be sure all containers that hold liquids are emptied immediately after liquids are emptied immediately after use. Do not leave empty containers in use. Do not leave empty containers in yards or around the house where they yards or around the house where they may accumulate water and attract may accumulate water and attract young children. young children.

▪▪Always secure the safety cover on Always secure the safety cover on your spa or hot tub. your spa or hot tub.

▪▪Learn CPR (cardiopulmonary Learn CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation)-it can save a life. resuscitation)-it can save a life.


The American Academy of Pediatrics The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests more tips to prevent In-Home suggests more tips to prevent In-Home drowning deaths: drowning deaths:

▪▪Empty all buckets, pails, and bathtubs Empty all buckets, pails, and bathtubs completely after each use-do not leave completely after each use-do not leave them filled and unattended. them filled and unattended.

▪▪Set your water heat thermostat so that Set your water heat thermostat so that the hottest temperature at the faucet is the hottest temperature at the faucet is 120°F to avoid burns. 120°F to avoid burns.


▪▪Watch children closely when they Watch children closely when they are playing near wells, open post are playing near wells, open post holes, or irrigation or drainage holes, or irrigation or drainage ditches. Fill in empty holes or have ditches. Fill in empty holes or have fences installed to protect your child. fences installed to protect your child.

▪▪Caution children about the risks of Caution children about the risks of drowning during the winter by falling drowning during the winter by falling through thin ice. through thin ice.

How to Prevent Swimming Pool How to Prevent Swimming Pool Drowning DeathsDrowning Deaths

The American Academy of Pediatrics The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests tips to prevent drowning suggests tips to prevent drowning deaths while children are playing in deaths while children are playing in water:water:

▪▪Never let a child swim in any body of Never let a child swim in any body of water without an adult watching.water without an adult watching.

▪▪Be sure the adult watching your child Be sure the adult watching your child knows how to swim, get emergency knows how to swim, get emergency help, and perform CPR.help, and perform CPR.


▪▪Teach children safety rules and make sure Teach children safety rules and make sure they are obeyed. they are obeyed.

▪▪Teach children to swim once he or she is Teach children to swim once he or she is ready (usually around 5 years old). ready (usually around 5 years old).

▪▪Keep a life preserver and shepherd’s hook Keep a life preserver and shepherd’s hook in the pool area to help pull a child to the in the pool area to help pull a child to the edge of the pool when necessary. edge of the pool when necessary.

▪▪Don’t let young children and children who Don’t let young children and children who can not swim use inflatable toys or can not swim use inflatable toys or mattresses in water that is above the waist. mattresses in water that is above the waist.


▪▪Teach your child safety rules and Teach your child safety rules and make sure these are obeyed:make sure these are obeyed:

••Never swim alone.Never swim alone.

••Never dive into water except when Never dive into water except when permitted by an adult who knows the permitted by an adult who knows the depth of the water and who has depth of the water and who has checked for underwater objects. checked for underwater objects.

••Always use a life jacket when on a Always use a life jacket when on a boat, fishing, or playing in a river or boat, fishing, or playing in a river or stream. stream.


▪▪If there is a pool in the yard, put up If there is a pool in the yard, put up a fence to separate your house from a fence to separate your house from the pool. Most young children who the pool. Most young children who drown in pools wander out of the drown in pools wander out of the house and fall into the pool. Install a house and fall into the pool. Install a fence at least 4 feet high around all 4 fence at least 4 feet high around all 4 sides of the pool. The fence will sides of the pool. The fence will completely separate the pool from completely separate the pool from the house and play area of the yard. the house and play area of the yard. Use gates that self-close and self-Use gates that self-close and self-latch, with latches higher than your latch, with latches higher than your children’s reach. children’s reach.


▪▪A power safety cover that meets A power safety cover that meets the standards of the American the standards of the American Society for Testing and Materials Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) adds to the protection of your (ASTM) adds to the protection of your children but should not be used in children but should not be used in place of the fence between your place of the fence between your house and pool. Even fencing around house and pool. Even fencing around your pool and using a power safety your pool and using a power safety cover will not prevent all drownings. cover will not prevent all drownings.


▪▪Remove all toys from the pool Remove all toys from the pool after use so children aren’t after use so children aren’t tempted to reach for them. tempted to reach for them.

▪▪After the children are done After the children are done swimming, secure the pool so swimming, secure the pool so they can’t get back into it. they can’t get back into it.

For More Information, Visit For More Information, Visit these Web Sitesthese Web Sites

American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Pediatrics, http://www.aap.org/healthtopics/watersafehttp://www.aap.org/healthtopics/watersafety.cfmty.cfm

U.S. Consumer Product Safety U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Commission, http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PREREL/prhhttp://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PREREL/prhtml03/03177.htmltml03/03177.html

Safe Kids USA, Safe Kids USA, http://www.usa.safekids.org/NSKW.cfmhttp://www.usa.safekids.org/NSKW.cfm

http://www.aap.org/healthtopics/watersafety.cfm

http://www.aap.org/healthtopics/watersafety.cfm

http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PREREL/prhtml03/03177.html

http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PREREL/prhtml03/03177.html

http://www.usa.safekids.org/NSKW.cfm

Missouri Department of Social Services Missouri Department of Social Services

State Technical Assistance TeamState Technical Assistance Team

Address:Address:

PO Box 208PO Box 208Jefferson City, MO Jefferson City, MO 65102-020865102-0208

Telephone: Telephone: (573) 751-5980(573) 751-5980(800) 487-1626(800) 487-1626(8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST, Monday – CST, Monday – Friday) Friday)

Email:Email:

[email protected]@dss.mo.gov

mailto:[email protected]

WATER SAFETY INFORMATION AND PREVENTION. Training Objectives Recognize risk factors associated with unintentional drowning Recognize risk factors associated.

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