Posted: 7/7/2014
Injury Prevention Center of Greater Dallas offers safety tips
Summer may mean more fun in the sun, but as more people try to escape the scorching heat it also brings an increased danger of drowning, especially for children.
“Dallas and Texas have longer periods of warmer temperatures, so there are more opportunities to be in and around water, whether it’s pools, lakes, rivers or coastal water,” said Shelli Stephens-Stidham, director of the
Injury Prevention Center of Greater Dallas, based at Parkland Health & Hospital System. “And with kids being out of school, there are more opportunities for them to be unsupervised.”
According to a 2013 report by the Dallas County Child Death Review Team, drowning was the fourth leading cause of death for children under 17, from 2001-2011. It was the leading cause of injury death for children ages 1 to 9. The report also notes that two-thirds of all child drowning deaths in that period occurred in home swimming pools.
Statistics from the Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Office show that between the years 2000 and 2010, the largest number of drowning deaths occurred among children between the ages of 1 and 4.
“One of the most important tips for water safety during the summer or at any time is to never leave children alone in or near a pool,” said Stephens-Stidham. “Accidents can happen in an instant.”
In addition, pools and hot tubs should be surrounded on all sides by sturdy fences at least 4 feet high. They should have self-closing and self-latching gates that cannot be reached by children. Consider installing a pool or gate alarm that can alert you when a gate is opened or someone goes into the water.
You should also avoid using swimming devices such as “floaties” because they aren’t intended to act as life jackets and they can give children a false sense of security. Keep toys that are not in use out of sight and away from the pool.
While the risk may be greater for children, adults also should use caution around water.
“Always use approved life jackets when boating, for all children and adults. And, never swim alone, whether at a pool or a lifeguarded beach,” Stephens-Stidham said.
Adults also should not drink alcohol when swimming or operating a boat. Alcohol increases the risk of dehydration, can impair your balance and vision, and can affect decision-making skills.
And, learn cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR). In a drowning emergency, call 9-1-1 and begin CPR on the victim immediately.
For additional information about the Injury Prevention Center of Greater Dallas, call 214.590.4455. Or visit
www.injurypreventioncenter.org.