HealthyLife Articles

Tag: drowning

  • Prevent Drowning

    Home Safety

    Do This, Not That

    According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

    *  Drowning ranks 5th among the leading causes of unintentional injury death in the United States.

    *  About 10 people die from unintentional drowning every day. Of these, 2 are children aged 14 or younger.

    *  An additional 347 people die each year from drowning in boating-related incidents.

    *  Drownings are the leading cause of death for young children ages 1 to 4. Most of these drownings occur in home swimming pools.

    *  Among adolescents and adults, alcohol use is involved in up to 70% of deaths associated with water recreation, almost a quarter of Emergency Department visits for drowning, and about 1 in 5 reported boating deaths. Alcohol influences balance, coordination, and judgment. Its effects are heightened by sun exposure and heat.

    General Guidelines

    Safe at Home - Do This, Not That Book. Published by the American Institute for Preventive Medicine. www.HealthyLife.com. All rights reserved.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Water Safety Tips You Need To Know

    SELF-CARE CORNER

    Image of mother and young child in the pool.

    When the summer sun beats down, many people flock to water for cooling relief and fun. Swimming, boating and water activities are a favorite pastime for many Americans. But, it’s important to know the dangers of water and how to keep yourself and your loved ones safe.

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says more than 3,500 people DROWN in the U.S.  each year in swimming (non-boating) related accidents.

    Most of these are children under the age of 14.

    And according to the U.S. Coast Guard,

    hundreds more die in boating-related accidents

    each year – and the majority of them are DUE TO DROWNING.

    Most drownings are preventable –

    so here’s what you should do any time you’re around water:

    *Keep pools gated and locked.Home pools should be enclosed with a locked fence that’s at least 4 feet high.

    *Always supervise.Children drown within seconds, not minutes. And, there’s typically no screaming, splashing, or other noise. Keep your eyes on children in the water at all times. Don’t turn your back, even for “just a minute.”

    *Wear life jackets.Many boating-related deaths could be avoided if all passengers wore U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets. Children should also wear them when swimming.

    *Consider swimming lessons.Children and adults can benefit from knowing how to swim, and it can reduce the risk of drowning.

    *Learn CPR.Giving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can save lives if given quickly after a water accident.

    *Stay sober.Alcohol and water don’t mix – so don’t drink if you’re boating, swimming or supervising children in the water.

    *Watch the weather.If there’s a chance of strong winds or a thunderstorm, stay out of the water.

    *Watch for rip currents in natural bodies of water.A rip current is a powerful current that you can’t see, but can quickly take even a grown adult underwater. If you feel one pull you down, swim parallel to the shore until you get free. Don’t try to fight it or swim toward the shore.

    *Know the boating laws.There are state and federal laws that boaters must follow. Learn about them atwww.uscgboating.org. You can also look into boating safety courses and safety checks for your boat on this website.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine