The ABC and D's of Drowning Prevention

The ABC & D's of Drowning Prevention : Simple Rules to Stay Safe Around Water
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Drownings can be prevented:
- The most common drowning victim is a child four years of age or younger.
- The majority of drowning deaths occur in the family pool with 70 percent of the incidents occurring between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
- Contrary to what many people believe, drowning is a quick and silent killer. In the time it takes to:

Get a towel (10 seconds) - a child can become submerged
Answer the phone (2 minutes) - a child can lose consciousness
Answer the front door (4-6
minutes) - a submerged child can
sustain permanent brain damage or die

A = Adult Supervision

B = Barriers (for your pool)

C = Classes (swim lessons & CPR)

D = Devices (PFD's, life jackets, rescue tools, and poolside phone)

A = Adult Supervision

Drowning is a leading cause of unintentional death for young children. Constant adult supervision is essential in preventing childhood drownings. These tragedies often occur while a caregiver is at home and there is a brief lapse in supervision.

A drowning can occur in seconds, in any water which covers a child's nose and mouth including:

Pools - including kiddie
pools
Hottubs
Inflatable pools
Bathtubs
Toilets
Buckets
Natural bodies of water

Always remember to:
- Designate an adult who can swim to actively supervise children around water.
- Teach all children to get out of the water if a supervising adult leaves the pool area.
- Hire a certified lifeguard for pool parties, beach barbecues or social gatherings around water.
- Maintain visual contact. Remain close to your child when in a pool, spa, or bathtub.
- Drain small kiddie pools when not in use.


B = Barriers (for your pool)

Installation and proper use of barriers or "Layers of Protection" is crucial. Many victims were last seen safe inside the home.

Layers of Protection
- Perimeter fences must be non-climbable, four sided, and a minimum of 60 inches high.
- Isolation fences must separate the pool/hottubs from the residence. They must be non-climbable, four-sided and a minimum of 48 inches high. A 60 inch high fence is recommended.
- Self-closing, self-latching fence gates. Latches must be mounted above the reach of small children. Gates must open away from pool. Contact your local building department for specific requirements.
- Gates must be closed and never propped open. When a pool is not in use gates must be locked with a combination lock so small children cannot get the key to open.
- Hot tub safety covers that support the weight of an adult must be locked to protect spa when not in use.
- Doggie doors must be alarmed or secured. A crawling baby can exit through a doggie door and drown in an unprotected pool.
- Power operated pool covers provide safety and are easy to use. Solar/floating pool covers are not safety covers and do not provide adequate protection. Children can slip underneath and become trapped out of site.
- Doors/windows leading to pool/hot tubs must be alarmed to alert family members when opened.
- Doors/windows/gates must be locked. Doors/gates must also be self-closing and self-latching.
- Tables/chairs/planters must be moved away from pool fence and secured so they cannot be used for climbing over fence.


C = Classes (swim lessons & CPR)

The responsibility of pool/spa ownership is to ensure family members learn to swim and know CPR (cardiopulmonary Resuscitation). Swim lessons are a gift for life. Swimming mastery includes the ability to perform various strokes.

The rules of the water:
- Each year, enroll children in age appropriate year round swim lessons taught by qualified instructors to maintain swimming skills. Non-swimming family members need lessons too.
- Never consider children "drown-proof" or "water-safe" despite age, swimming skills, previous lessons or experience. This may lead to a lack of supervision or a false sense of security.
- CPR skills save lives and prevent brain damage by maintaining a person's breathing/heartbeat until medical assistance arrives.
- Require parents, grandparents and care givers to know CPR, rescue techniques and how to call 9-1-1.
- Take refresher courses to help maintain CPR skills.


D = Devices (PFD's, life jackets and rescue tools)

- Create a safe pool environment. Be prepared and practice lifesaving procedures prior to an emergency situation.
- Lifesaving ring, shepherd's hook, and CPR instructions should be mounted at pool side. Rescue equipment must be accessible and in good repair.
- A pool side phone is an essential part of a safe pool environment which allows access to 9-1-1 and avoids leaving children unattended to answer the phone.
- Post 9-1-1 emergency number, home phone number and home address at every telephone.
- Install a toy box away from the pool. Toys in or around pool/spa entice children to that area.
- All pool and boat owners must know reaching assist techniques.
- Children and non-swimmers must wear personal flotation devices (PFD or life jacket) which are government approved around any body of open water.
- Floaties or inflatable toys are not designed to be used as a PFD/life-jacket or substitute for adult supervision.