Playing in water is one of the great joys of childhood. But according to a new research study conducted by SAFE KIDS and Johnson & Johnson, drowning is the number one killer of children ages 1 to 4 and the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children ages 14 and under.
The majority of drownings and near-drownings occur in residential swimming pools and in open bodies of water. However, children can drown in as little as one inch of water, and are therefore at risk of drowning in bathtubs, buckets, diaper pails and toilets.
Drowning is a quick, silent killer that only takes seconds to happen and typically occurs when a child is left unattended or during a brief lapse in adult supervision. The consequences can be devastating to families. To prevent such occurrences, parents can do more to protect their children this summer.
Steps parents can take to help protect children from drownings include:
- Never leave a child unsupervised in or around water in the home. Empty all containers immediately after use and store out of reach.
- Never leave a child unsupervised in or around a pool or any open bodies of water.
- Install four-sided isolation fencing, at least five feet high, and equipped with self-closing and self-latching gates. Fencing should completely surround swimming pools or spas and prevent direct access from a house or yard.
Parents need to actively supervise their children when they are playing in or around water.
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