Drowning is the fifth-leading cause of unintentional injury death for people of all ages, and the second-leading cause of injury death among children ages 1 to 14. Ten people die every day from drowning. For every child who experiences a fatal drowning event, five more suffer the catastrophic effects of non-fatal drowning events which may last a lifetime.
Drowning can be quiet, subtle and can take place in a matter of seconds. A child could look as though holding his breath or even underwater swimming. Additionally, people are subject to denial and disbelief that often occur in drowning scenarios. They may think a child must be OK, just holding his breath or playing.
The signs of drowning to look for include:
- Gasping for air
- A weak swim stroke
- Bobbing up and down in the water
- Hair in the eyes
- Swimming the wrong way in a current
- Hand waving or arms out to the sides
- Floating face down
- Properly fitting United States Coast Guard-approved life jackets are best for weak and non-swimming children in swimming pools.
- Other flotation devices and accessories like water wings and swim vests are labeled ‘not intended for safety' and should not be used for children who cannot swim.
- Swimming alone is dangerous, so use the buddy system.
- Always swim near a lifeguard.
- Consider wearable or towable flags or inflatable devices for open water swimming.
- Be cautious about pool parties. It is tempting to think of pool parties, where several adults will be on hand, as safe. But more adults often means more socializing and distractions. Assign a water watcher or hire a lifeguard whose sole responsibility is to watch the children in, on, and around the water. Alcohol significantly increases the chance of catastrophic injuries and drownings.
- Diving should only be allowed in deep water.
- In an emergency, individuals often look around to see how others react to the situation, and assume that if no one is helping, no help is needed. Don’t be a bystander.
- If you have a backyard pool, install self-closing self-latching gates, a four-sided isolation barrier, and alarms and other technologies.
- Resources for parents can be found at websites such as Pool Safely (www.poolsafely.gov), and Colin’s Hope (www.colinshope.org).
In addition to looking for signs of drowning, look for signs of life. You should see swimmers on the surface or surfacing frequently, breathing and making meaningful movement in the water. If any of these signs are not present, assist them or alert a lifeguard immediately. When in doubt, check them out.
Safety Tips
Children must be supervised in and around the water. Unfortunately, even the most alert adult is subject to lapses in concentration, especially with handheld technologies creating even more distractions. Many drownings occur during these momentary lapses. Parents and supervisors should refrain from phone use when watching children in the water.