I grew up in Florida and have a very vivid memory of the day I learned to swim in my grandparents swimming pool. My Aunt and Uncle taught me and it was moments like that that encouraged me to really invest in the lives of my nieces and nephews. But now as a parent I feel an even greater sense of responsibility and protection over my daughter.
We are traveling to Florida for family visits in May and I know this trip will involve lots of water time. Last year it wasn't as much of an issue because our child had to be held constantly regardless of land or sea. But this year I know our rambunctious and curious toddler will be a different story. I decided to do a little research and thought some of you may benefit from what I found too.
I am not a swim instructor, I have no experience with babies and water- just a regular mom trying to prepare myself to keep my kid safe. So here’s what I found...
Basic Tips
*Its a great idea to take a Infant/Child CPR class. I actually have to keep my certification current for work and my husband learned through our NICU class so this one was easy for me. But here are some links to local classes if you are interested. (The one I do is for medical professionals through work so I cant recommend one of these first hand but ours are through the American Red Cross)
This is an awesome, quick picture reference if you know you will never take a class (but classes are ideal) http://depts.washington.edu/learncpr/infantcpr.html
*Always keep a child that cant swim WELL within arms reach. This is one of your best defenses against child drowning.
*Any time you are near water, make sure your child is wearing a properly fitting flotation device that is approved by the US Coast Guard. Don't rely on inflatable toys (like water wings) to keep your baby/toddler safe in the water. This one was a little harder for me- I didn't even know they had “approved devices”. But Google knows. And there are lots of places to order one online and local stores that sell them as well. (USCG approved)
This article was a little advanced for my needs right now but it seemed to have great info if anyone wants more specifics on finding the right life vest for your child. http://www.parents.com/kids/safety/other-safety-issues/choosing-life-jackets-for-kids/
*If you are going to a public pool, lake, or beach do some research to see if there are options for places with lifeguards on duty and rescue equipment in good condition. Bring your phone for emergencies (and poolside photo-ops!)
For Home Pools and Spas:
(If you have one, likely you already know way more than I do but here are a few tips anyways)
*If you have a permanent pool have a fence around the entire perimeter that is at least 4 feet high with a self-closing, self-latching gate that opens away from the pool. Always insure the gate is locked when the pool is not in use and make sure there aren't things near the fence the child can use to climb over.
*Make sure the drain has an anti-entrapment cover or drain safety system in place. “The suction from a pool drain can be strong enough to hold even an adult underwater, pulling on the hair or on the body and forming a seal. Missing or faulty covers often cause the problem, and an upgrade may save a life.” (babycenter.com)
*Remove toys from the pool and pool area to avoid drawing your child over to the area to play.
*Drain inflatable or plastic wading pools after each use and keep them upright when stored.
This article http://www.webmd.com/children/features/new-pool-safety-gadgets-help-prevent-drowning has some interesting information about safeguarding your home pool. It talks about a study conducted by the Consumer Product Safety Commission regarding child drownings that occurred while children were supervised. The statistics are surprising (especially the ones that drown while there were thought to be sleeping).
Something I think we all should know:
What to do if my child slips under the water
*Again- never leave a child unattended in water- not even for a second.
If they slip under for a moment they will likely come up coughing.
But if they’ve been under for longer than a moment you will need to act QUICKLY and CALMLY.
*Lift your child out of the water
*Gently tap or shake your child to see if they respond. If they are unresponsive, aren't breathing, or have no pulse- IMMEDIATELY start infant CPR.
*If someone is nearby, shout for help and tell them to call 911.
*If you are ALONE, preform 2 Minutes of CPR then pause to call 911. (another great step by step for CPR with drowning http://www.webmd.com/first-aid/drowning-treatment)
*Continue doing CPR until the child begins breathing on their own or until emergency medical personnel arrive.
*If your child has come close to drowning, immediately take her to the emergency room for a complete medical evaluation. Even if she appears fine, she may have inhaled water and stopped breathing, which could cause lung or nervous system damage.
There are also risks for Dry Drowning and Secondary Drowning that are less obvious:
*Symptoms: Coughing,Chest pain,Trouble breathing,Feeling extremely tired,Your child may also have changes in behavior such as such as irritability or a drop in energy levels, which could mean the brain isn't getting enough oxygen.
What to do: If your child has any s/s of dry/secondary drowning its important to get them checked out. Its likely they will get better with a little time but if they aren't its important to act quickly to treat the problem right away to prevent complications.
This article has more info about Dry and Secondary Drowning http://www.webmd.com/children/features/secondary-drowning-dry-drowning
With any type of drowning please know that even after they are breathing there are other potential complications including dilution of their blood from fresh water or pool water that can cause deadly electrolyte imbalances, aspiration infections and lung complications, potential brain damage from lack of oxygen to name a few.
As a nurse with a background in Trauma and Critical Care Ive see a lot of things that aren't necessarily likely, but they happened anyway. While most of us will thankfully never experience a drowning or near-drowning with our children- please don't just assume it wont happen to you. Drowning remains the second-leading cause of injury-related death for children. Thats not something to ignore.
This article turned a little more grim than I had originally anticipated but I hope it provided helpful information that can potentially help save a life. It gets hot here in Austin, Texas and I intend to enjoy the water during the summertime. Lets stay safe out there friends!!
......Jessica Britnell
No comments:
Post a Comment