Drowning Prevention
Drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional injury death for children under the age of 6 in Virginia. Several factors put young children at high risk for drowning. Young children are physically top-heavy, active, curious and impulsive. They are also too young to understand that pools and standing water can be dangerous. Children under the age of five years do not struggle in the water. They can drown without making a sound. Most drownings involving young children occur in residential settings. Most drownings or near drownings occur when adults are present and engaged in routine activities.
Prevention Tips
- Never leave a child unsupervised in a bathtub, even for a second. Most siblings are not old enough to properly supervise a young child in this situation.
- Never leave a child alone near a pool/spa, bathtub, toilet,water-filled bucket, pond, or any standing body of water.
- An unclimbable, five-foot fence should separate the pool/spa from the residence. Fence openings should be no more than four inches wide so children cannot squeeze through the spaces.
- The fence gate should be self-closing and self-latching with latches above a child’s reach.
- Never rely on flotation devices or swimming lessons to protect a child. Twenty-five percent of all drowning victims have had swimming lessons.
- Don’t allow children to play in the pool/spa area. Never keep toys around or in a pool.
- Avoid swimming after dark.
- Risk for drowning increases in muddy water of lakes, ponds, and rivers.
- Avoid weak or thawing ice on any body of water.
- Diving into shallow water can cause spinal injuries. Never allow diving in above-ground pools, shallow water, or unknown areas.
- Require all persons to wear Coast Guard approved personal flotation devices when involved in water-related recreational activities, regardless of swimming ability.
- Avoid using alcohol or other drugs prior to and during recreational water activities.
True Story
A two year old boy was found at the bottom of a pool by a bystander and was admitted to the hospital. A bar was missing from the fence around the pool and a basketball and soccer ball were floating in the water.
Useful Links
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
