South Gulf County Volunteer Fire Department

WATER SAFETY

Water Safety

Can your child roll over, float on his/her back, and yell for help?

This is the most important technique children can use to protect themselves from drowning while alerting others to their danger.

Does your child take refresher swimming classes every year?

Rapidly changing skills, different levels of development, and a limited attention span require that a child’s swimming abilities be continually updated.

Can you resuscitate your child?

All care givers (parents, grandparents, babysitters, etc) must learn First Aid/CPR.

Did you know...

• A child can drown in the time it takes to answer the phone. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
• An average of 240 children under 5yrs old drown in swimming pools nationwide each year (CPSC)
• For every child who drowns, three receive emergency department care for non- fatal submersion injuries. More than 40% of these children require hospitalization. Nonfatal incidents can cause brain damage that result in long-term disabilities ranging from memory problems and learning disabilities to the permanent loss of basic functioning (i.e. permanent vegetative state). Center for Disease Control 2003
• Nearly 90% of drowning deaths in children between the ages of 1 and 14 happen under the supervision of another person, usually a family member. Supervision is defined as "being in the care of another individual, not necessarily in their direct line of sight." National SAFE KIDS Campaign

Posted by Nick Vacco - Wednesday, 07/24/13, 12:08 AM - Comments - Category: Health and Safety