Water Safety Talking Points

Statistics

• Every year in Texas about 80 children drown or nearly drown. In fact, drowning is the leading cause of accidental injury deaths among kids under age five. Toddlers may not know how to swim, but they are naturally attracted to water and it only takes a few minutes for a child to drown.
• Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury fatalities for children age 4 and younger. For children 14 and younger, drowning is second leading cause of unintentional injury fatalities.
• About 80 percent of drownings occur between May and September, according to Houston-based Save a Life--Prevent a Drowning.

Water safety tips

Inside the house

• Never leave small children alone around any container of water. This includes toilets, tubs, wading pools, spas, aquariums, and buckets used for cleaning and mopping.
• Tell baby-sitters and other caregivers about potential hazards to young children in and around water, and stress the need for constant supervision.
• Make sure all pet doors are secured and children cannot crawl through them to gain access to pools or hot tubs.
• Keep bathroom doors closed and secure toilet lids with lid locks.
  
• When bathing children, gather the soap, shampoo, toys, towel, diaper, clothing, and any other needed items before running the bath water. Place these items within easy reach.
  
• Once your child is in the bath, don't leave for any reason. Children can drown in just a small amount of water. They can easily topple into the tub or toilet. It only takes a short time for a drowning to happen.
  
• If you must leave the room for the telephone or door, take the child with you after taking the child out of the water and wrapping him or her in a towel.
  
• To avoid letting a child fall or slip under the water, always keep one hand firmly around the child and keep the child sitting when bathing.

Water safety outside

• Never leave children alone with water whether it is in a pool, wading pool, drainage ditch, creek, pond or lake.
  
• Stay with children swimming or playing in water. They need an adult or certified lifeguard to keep a constant watch and be within reach.
  
• Use approved life jackets.
  
• Safeguard swimming pools. Use fences. Install self-closing and latching gates, and water surface alarms.
  
• Completely remove pool covers when the pool is in use.
  
• Make sure proper safety equipment is located near the pool.
  
• Store water toys away from the pool when the toys are not in use.
  Don't assume young children will use good judgment and caution around water.
  
• Be prepared for emergencies. Have a first-aid kit and emergency medical telephone numbers. Learn CPR.
  
• Know if your child's friends have home pools.

For more information

• www.poolsafety.gov
• July 10. 2009: Texas Child Fatality Review Water Safety Position Statement
• July 7, 2009: Child Drowning Incidents on the Rise, Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas