71% of the Earth’s surface is water.  How much of your time are you dedicating to preventing drowning accidents?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were 3,582 unintentional fatal drownings in 2005.

One fourth of these drownings is a child age 14 or younger.  Additionally, four children receive emergency room treatment for a non-fatal incident for every child fatality.

While the statistics are startling, there are things that can be done to help prevent drownings.  The Drowning Prevention Coalition of Arizona recommends the following sequence: Block, Watch, Learn, Rescue Steps.

One of the most important things that the DPCA talks about is the Watch sequence.  With water everywhere, it is not always possible that the water would be fenced off or blocked.  Parents and caregivers need to keep a constant eye on children around water.

Watch

• Most drowning victims are missing for less than five minutes before their absence is noted.
• Drownings occur suddenly and without warning.  There is usually no splash and no cry.
• Constant supervision should be practiced near all bodies of water. Drownings frequently occur in buckets, bathtubs, toilets, canals, ponds/lakes, etc.
• In most drowning incidents the caregiver admits they were away for “just a few seconds.”

What programs are available to safety educators to help prevent drownings?

There are several programs that are being utilized throughout the country.  I’ve listed a few of them below.

Water Awareness In Residential Neighborhoods (WARN)

The WARN program features Diver Dan and stresses the hazards involved with water in residential neighborhoods.  It seems that we may be more conscious of hazards when we are at the beach or the pool, but what about all of those retention ponds and other water hazards close to home.

http://www.warnonline.org/english/

Safer 3

The Safer 3 awareness program from Swim for Life stresses Safer Kids, Safer Water, Safer Response.

http://www.swimforlife.com/sfl.aspx?page=programs

Stay On Top Of It

Drowning prevention and water safety information from Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center and the Washington State Drowning Prevention Network, Seattle, WA.

http://www.drowning-prevention.org/

These sites are only a sample of some of the drowning prevention resources that are available for your program.  Of course, there is also the NFPA’s RiskWatch program which addresses drowning among other injury risks.

Tell us about what you are doing to help prevent drownings.  Leave a comment below.

Acknowledgements:

Special thanks to Brent Schlenker at the Corporate eLearning Strategies and Development blog for reminding me of the importance for drowning prevention.  His daughter Emma has made important strides in bringing water safety awareness to international attention.  Her efforts included an appearance on The Ellen Degeneres Show.

Story Photo by Flickr User: hughan3