Prevent your Child from Drowning

Topic:

Water Safety

Playing in the water is fun for children of all ages — and with Florida’s year-round warm weather, it is a favorite activity in the sunshine state.

Why Drowning Prevention is Important

Kids can drown in as little as on 1 inch of water.
Drowning is the leading cause of death in children ages 1 to 4.
Swimming pools are the most common site of accidental drowning.
In 83 percent of drowning incidents, the child was estimated to be missing for 11-12 minutes.
The incidence of drowning in natural water settings increases with age. Of kids older than 15 years-old, 57 percent of drownings occurred in lakes, oceans or rivers.
In 2017, the U.S. Coast Guard reported 2,629 injuries and 658 deaths due to boating incidents.
Nearly 9 out of 10 drowning victims were not wearing life jackets.

Prevention Tips

Home Pools
- Install a four-sided fence that completely separates the house from the pool area.
- Consider an alarm system to alert you if someone enters the pool area.
- Keep pools free of floats and balls that might tempt children to enter the pool unsupervised.
- Always designate a responsible adult as “water watcher,” as many drownings occur because it is assumed someone else is watching children in the pool.
- If a child is “missing” — always check the pool first. Scan the entire bottom and surface as well as the surrounding area.
- Above ground pools should have a fence around the pool or around the access point, such as the ladder or stairs.
- Hard covers should be on hot tubs at all times when not in use.
Natural Bodies of Water
- Swim in supervised areas only.
- Always enter the water “feet first” and look before jumping to be sure no one is in the way.
- Obey posted warning flags, and stay away from piers, pilings and jetties.
- Keep a lookout for and avoid aquatic life.
Boating
- Wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket:
  - Type I: Offshore Life Jacket –
    - Designed for open ocean, rough waters or remote areas.
    - They turn most unconscious wearers to a vertical position.
  - Type II: Near Shore Life Jacket –
    - Designed for inland waters. They may turn most unconscious wearers to a vertical position.
    - They are less buoyant than Type I, but are more comfortable to wear.
  - Type III: Flotation Aids –
    - Designed for calm inland waters or for the specialized sport that is marked on the device.
    - Type III is more comfortable for active water sports than Types I and II.
  - Type IV: Throwable Devices –
    - Designed to be thrown to a victim in an emergency.
    - They are not intended to take the place of wearing a life jacket.
- Do not ride in a boat – or let children ride in a boat – operated by someone who has been drinking alcohol.
- Attend a boating course with the family (some examples include Red Cross, U.S. Coast Guard, US Sailing) to learn navigation rules and emergency procedures.
Other Tips
- Empty all tubs, buckets, containers and kiddie pools immediately after use and store them upside down to prevent the collection of water
- Close toilet lids and use seat locks to prevent kids from falling in head first.
- Ensure there are no covered or uncovered holes around the house collecting water.