By St. Luke’s Wood River
The American Academy of Pediatrics reports drowning is the number one cause of death among children aged one to four and is the leading cause of death among teens. Every year, across the United States, about 136 children ages five to nine and about 370 children/teens ages 10 to 19 drown. In Idaho, the Child Fatality Review Team reported there were six drowning deaths in 2015. The common factors were inadequate supervision, unsecured access to water, no barriers, and delayed calls to 911. Listed below are some things you can do to protect yourself and your children from drowning:
- Swim Lessons: Contact your local pool, YMCA, or the Blaine County Recreation District for a list of reputable, experienced, licensed instructors.
- Assigned Water Watchers: Assign a trusted adult to be a water watcher and pay constant attention to children in the water.
- Learn CPR: Contact St. Luke’s for class dates and times.
- Safe Swim Areas: Supervised pools, designated swim areas in open water, and areas where lifeguards are present.
- Fences, Gates and Locked Doors: Ensure there are barriers between your children and water sources. This includes bathrooms, ponds, ditches and standing water in yards.
- Life Vests/Floation Devices: Make sure your children are wearing properly fitted, Coast Guard-approved life vests when boating or recreating in open or swift-moving water. Provide a life vest or floatation device for kids in pools who can’t swim or can’t swim well.
- Teen Awareness: Good communication with your teen about water safety will go a long way! Always know where they are swimming and that they aren’t swimming alone. Ensure they have a life jacket that fits, a way to call for help, and they understand, even teens who can swim drown every year.
For more information, contact St. Luke’s Center for Community Health, (208) 727-8733.
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