Summer Water Safety Should Be Top Concern for Parents, Caregivers

There’s nothing like a good, cool swim on a hot summer day, but it only takes a moment for something good to turn very bad. Such was the case for a Stone Mountain family whose 5-year-old drowned last Wednesday while attending a pool party at a friend’s house.

“The void he left can never be filled,” said the child’s mom, in a statement read at the funeral.

With large numbers of children in metro-area pools, the American Red Cross wants to remind parents and caregivers to be extremely careful when it comes to children and water.

“Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages one to fourteen,” said Ruben Brown, media specialist for the American Red Cross.  “Any source of water is a drowning hazard. Small children have to be supervised at all times, but especially around water,” continued Brown. 

Brown warns parents and caregivers not to let down their guard when kids are swimming in a large group setting like a water park.  “When parents are in a situation with a lot of people there is sometimes a false sense of security. We think that if something happens somebody will respond,” said Brown.

According to information from their “It Only Takes a Moment” brochure, the American Red Cross states that “drowning usually happens quickly and silently—many children who drown in home pools were out of sight for less than 5 minutes and in the care of one or both parents at the time.” 

The American Red Cross gives the following safety instructions for parents and caregivers to follow when at the pool with children:

• Maintain constant supervision of children whenever around water.

• Avoid distractions when supervising children around water.

• Have children or inexperienced swimmers wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket around water, but do not rely on life jackets alone—always maintain constant supervision!

• Block access to unguarded, non-designated swimming areas.

• If a child is missing, check the water first. Seconds count in preventing death or disability.

• Know how and when to call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number.

• Enroll in Red Cross water safety, first aid and CPR courses to learn what to do. Insist that babysitters, grandparents and others who care for children know these lifesaving skills.

For more information about water safety, call the Atlanta Chapter of the American Red Cross at 404-876-3302 or visit them online at www.atlantaredcross.org.