No one takes a trip to a family pool anticipating losing one of their loved ones to drowning, but the fact is six people drown in pools in the United States every day. Even though many of these pools are public and have certified lifeguards on duty, drowning is still one of the top leading causes of accidental death in our country.
Even more shocking is that 30% of those who drown in public pools are children. These are staggering statistics, but there are many steps you can take in order to protect your children from drowning, such as:
· Keep your eyes open. Never take your eyes off of your child – a child can drown in the amount of time it takes to answer a telephone call. In fact, a staggering number of children who have died due to drowning were under the care of their parents. Always ensure someone is watching your child so you do not have to worry about distractions.
· Proper swimming. Teach your children to swim properly. Often public pools offer swimming classes taught by certified lifeguards that can help your child learn the specifics of swimming that can often prove to save their life.
· Don’t run. Even though we all see the signs posted at public pools about this rule, children often disobey and slip and fall accidents often occur in drowning fatalities.
· Avoid drinking alcohol before or during swimming.
According to the Foundation for Aquatic Injury Prevention , approximately 5,000 children under the age of 14 are admitted to the hospital due to near-drownings each year; 15 percent die in the hospital and many suffer severe, permanent brain injuries.
It is important for children to be watched closely, especially due to the fact that drowning happens quickly and silently. When a child is under water for a prolonged amount time, his or her brain is deprived of oxygen and if the near-drowning does not result in a fatality, there is a good chance a child could suffer a life-long, traumatic brain injury.
Pools are intended to be a fun, recreational place to visit. Public pools are subject to a number of safety laws in order to protect both the children and adults visiting those pools every day. However, drowning accidents still occur to both children and adults alike. These accidents are always traumatic and the death of a child or loved one in an accidental death such as drowning can change the life of the family forever.
