Tragedy can happen in the blink of an eye. A parent leaves their child alone for the briefest of moments and when they return, their child has drowned in a swimming pool. It’s a sad story we hear all too often.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that three children die every day as a result of drowning. Lives can be saved and life-altering injuries prevented by following the ABC’s of Pool Safety. Adult Supervision, Barriers, and Classes.
A – Adult Supervision. Flotation devices such as lifejackets or water wings may help keep kids above water, but don’t mistake them as a substitute for adult supervision. Adult Supervision is the number one factor in keeping your child safe around water. It’s best to stay within arms reach of your child at all times while in and around the pool. We spoke to Kelly Liebermann, a Paramedic at the Phoenix Fire Department and Community Education Specialist on Drowning Prevention. He urges parents to assign a designated water watcher who can swim to explicitly watch the child in the water.
“Whether you’re at a backyard pool or a barbeque or even at a recreational center like this, don’t always rely on someone else to watch your child. Know what you have to have is a designated water watcher.”
While a lifeguard may put a parent’s mind at ease, don’t rely on them as the sole water watcher. It’s important to never leave your child unattended–not even for one second.
B: Barriers. Install and maintain proper fencing around the pool to isolate your swimming area from the home and play area.
“But you’re not only having the barriers but having the appropriate barriers.”
Locks and latches on the fence and gate, windows and doors of the home, door alarms, motion detection devices, along with pool covers can also help save lives. It’s also important to remove objects and toys from the pool area that will attract children.
C – Classes. Classes are an important tool in teaching pool safety and can start as early as infancy.
“Kids are learning how to swim at six months old. Ok and it’s because they can. They’re learning different techniques from survival swimming to different water safety deals and how to swim. Floating on their back. I mean these kids are getting completely submerged and floating on their back screaming until someone knows that they’re there. And then they’re learning the monkey crawl along the curb until they find the step and get out. It’s incredible what these young children are able to learn and it does….It helps save lives and prevent harm.”
Life-saving techniques like CPR, first aid, and rescue procedures are taught through classes, giving adults the knowledge they need to keep their children safe.
“I believe everyone should learn CPR. Statistics show that when done successfully it saves lives. The brain starts to die after 4-6 minutes without oxygenated blood. If you find someone in a pool, you don’t know how long they've been down for and you pull them out, the average response time for fire departments is about 4 and a half to 5 minutes. That time should be used to do CPR, start breathing for that person, and doing compressions. Its imperative. Again, once the brain starts to die after 4 to 6 minutes, it's done. It's not coming back. “
Drowning happens quickly and quietly anywhere there is water but is 100% preventable just by following your ABC’s of pool safety: Adult Supervision, Barriers, and Classes.
I'm Alexis Phillips for Legal News Network -- your source for safety information.
For free consumer safety information and case updates, visit us at legalnewsnetwork.com.
Legal News Network - Brought to you by Moll Law Group.