Congratulations to the Association of Skilled Nursing Providers
Published by wdel.com
Written by Amy Osmond Cook
May 15, 2018
There’s nothing quite like jumping into a nice, cool pool or lake to start off the hot summer. Adults and kids alike love to play in the water, but a fun day of swimming can turn deadly fast if someone gets overwhelmed in the water.
May is National Water Safety Month, and it is a great time to brush up on ways to prevent drowning before all the pools open for the summer. Drowning is the second leading cause of death for children under 14 in Utah, and it can happen in pools, bathtubs and even small amounts of water. Here are five things to know about drowning and how to prevent it.
Water at any depth is dangerous
Children can drown in even very shallow water. Even one inch of water can be dangerous for an infant. Always empty pools, buckets, and coolers after using them and take steps to protect other water around your home. If you have a large pool, keep it secured and inaccessible to small children. Install safety locks on toilets and make sure young children cannot get into the washing machine. Top-heavy babies and toddlers can have a hard time getting themselves back upright if they fall, so seemingly ordinary household items can be dangerous if they have water in them.
Don’t leave kids unattended with water
A drowning accident can happen in an instant. Even if you think you are only stepping away for a moment, that can be the difference between life or death for a child in the water. It takes only a few seconds for a child to slip under the water, and they can lose consciousness in two minutes. In four to six minutes under the water, a child can sustain life-altering brain damage.
Read the full article in Daily Herald.