Water.
It can take a life in 10 seconds. It can make a child lose consciousness
in the time it takes to answer the phone. During the summer, with kids
flocking to swimming pools, water parks, ponds and lakes, drowning is
always a major concern.
Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related
death to children ages 14 and under, according to the National SAFE KIDS
Campaign. For every child who drowns, four more are hospitalized for near
drowning, which can be just as serious because it can cause brain damage.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more
than 4,000 people drowned, including more than 1,000 children under the
age of 15 in 1998.
Who is most likely to drown? The CDC says:
- Children
- Males -- males comprised 81 percent of people who drowned in the
United States
- Blacks -- Black children drowned at 2.5 times the rate of whites
Drownings aren’t the only serious water injuries that happen during
the summer months. John Lundell, deputy director of the Injury Prevention
Research Center at the University of Iowa, explained that many injuries
don’t even happen in the water.
"The most frequent injuries that happen to children and adults when
they are around water in the summer are sunburns," said Lundell.
"The reflection off the water can cause significant burns. Wear proper
sunscreen at all times."
Lundell also suggests that parents warn children of the risks of the
water.
"Younger kids can’t perceive the depth of water or what to
do in a strong current. They should be well supervised when playing around
water," Lundell said. He added that many water injuries happen around
natural water because of the lack of supervision on ponds, lakes, and
rivers.
Another factor that can lead to common injuries when being around water
early in the summer is water temperature.
"In the early summer months, the colder water can cause muscle cramps,"
Lundell said. "You should always stretch well before entering water
to prevent injuries related to cramps."
The CDC suggests the following rules for preventing summertime water
injuries:
- Whenever young children are swimming, playing or bathing in water,
make sure an adult is constantly watching them.
- Never swim alone or in unsupervised places. Teach children to always
swim with a buddy.
- Never drink alcohol during or just before swimming, boating or water
skiing. Never drink alcohol while supervising children. Teach teenagers
about the danger of drinking alcohol and swimming, boating or water
skiing.
- To prevent choking, never chew gum or eat while swimming, diving
or playing in water.
- Learn to swim. Enroll yourself and/or your children ages 4 and older
in swimming classes. Swimming classes are not recommended for children
under age 4.
- Learn CPR. This is particularly important for pool owners and individuals
who regularly participate in water recreation.
- DO NOT use air-filled swimming aids (such as "water wings’)
in place of life jackets or life preservers with children. These can
give parents and children a false sense of security.
For more information on water safety and preventing water-related injuries,
call the Injury Prevention Research Center at 319-335-4458.
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For more information:
National SAFE KIDS Campaign
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC)
Injury Prevention
Research Center
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