Did you know that drowning is the number one cause for deaths in children between the ages of 1-4?
The CDC reports that an estimated 4,000 fatal drownings and 8,000 non-fatal drownings occur every year in the United States. Non-fatal drowning, or when a person survives a drowning incident, can result in long-term health problems and serious injuries, such as brain damage and long-term disability.
With temperatures beginning to soar, cooling off in a pool sounds like a great idea. But with owning a pool also comes the responsibility of safety for those that use your pool. Swimming pool accidents can be especially devastating because they can happen in your own backyard.
One way to stay safe is not to use toys and floatation devices that have been deemed unsafe. The FDA and U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) have warned against the use of infant flotation rings or neck floats. These rings have been evaluated and found that they can deflate during use or storage, causing a child to slide out of the product and into the water, which can lead to serious injury or death.
There are many other ways to keep you and someone you love safe around pools:
- Make sure everyone knows how to swim and keep those that can’t swim away from the pool.
- Never allow young children to swim alone.
- Keep lifesaving equipment in the pool area.
- Stay out of the pool during rain and lightning storms.
We hope you stay safe and enjoy the pool this summer!