WHY DROWNING IS MORE THAN A SEASONAL CONCERN

Anyone who reads our Safety Corner Blog knows that we spend a lot of time talking about the threat of drowning. That is because we know that drowning is the leading cause of death in ages 1-4 years of age. We also know how quickly a drowning can occur. It happens quickly, silently, and even when adults are close at hand.

Most people assume that drowning is primarily a summer concern but did you know that there are still 900 drownings per year in bathtubs? The number of drownings that occur in hot tubs is also on the rise.

70% of drownings in the 1-4 age group occur in non-swimming times. In other words, when we least expect it. Under those circumstances, children are generally found after an unknown number of minutes, often too late to make a difference.

It’s important for parents and all caregivers of children to understand that drowning happens quickly and can have a lasting effect. Submersions that last longer than 6 minutes may result in severe, possibly permanent life-long consequences. Or worse.

You cannot wait for a paramedic response to save lives. Response to a drowning must occur immediately after getting someone out of the water. With immediate application of CPR, lives are usually saved in those vital minutes between the discovery and removal of the victim.

We recently spoke to three families who in 2023 experienced firsthand the trauma of a drowning infant or child. Not surprising to us was the fact that these drownings occurred with one or more adults present or very near to where the event took place.

Thankfully, the parents we spoke with were able to revive the little ones (ranging from 10 months to 9 years of age) with basic CPR skills, although in one case it was a close call. Full recovery was not achieved until after the arrival and treatment by paramedics. Out of all the family members present when the drownings occurred only one had recent CPR training and several had not had a class in nearly 10 years.

PREVENTION IS KEY.

Please read our article The Five Layers of Protection That Prevent Children From Drowning in which we outline specific safety measures for pools and hot tubs as recommended by the National Drowning Prevention Association. 

The number one requirement and most effective measure? Close, constant, attentive and capable adult supervision.

And needless to say, CPR training is invaluable.

Time to update your life-saving skills?  Save A Little Life™ classes are available as both private and public events. Why not make it a family affair?

Contact us for more information.

 

 

THE 5 LAYERS OF PROTECTION THAT PREVENT CHILDREN FROM DROWNING

Without question, water safety should be at the top of all parental concerns. Those who have taken our Pediatric CPR & Family Safety class know that drowning is the leading cause of accidental death between the ages of 1-4.

The National Drowning Prevention Association (NDPA) has outlined the most important things you can do to prevent such a catastrophe.

THE 5 LAYERS OF PROTECTION

#1

Have and maintain fences, barriers, and alarms around your pool, hot tub, and decorative ponds on your property. Most drownings occur during NON swimming times.


#2

Parents, family members, and care providers must stay focused on children who are swimming or playing in water. Drowning can occur within 30 seconds of submersion.

ALWAYS CHECK YOUR POOL FIRST IF YOU CANNOT LOCATE YOUR CHILD!

#3

Swimming lessons! Some experts believe that real water competency can start as early as 6 months while others believe that attaining necessary skills in the water should begin at 1 year. The ability to swim can reduce the risk of drowning by 90%!

#4

For those children who aren’t safe in the water it is essential that they are fitted with a proper life preserver/jacket. Floaties are not adequate protection in water.

#5

CPR and emergency preparedness is crucial. Drowning victims can be saved with quick action and an overall plan of readiness. All family members and care providers need to be ready to provide life saving immediately when necessary. Parents… Nannies… Family Members… Babysitters. Be sure that everyone you trust with the life of your child is able to respond quickly.

BE INFORMED. BE PREPARED. BE SAFE.

Is it time to update your CPR skills?

If so, contact Save A Little Life™ for a refresher course

UPCOMING CLASSES

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WHAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT DROWNING

Drowning is a major concern worldwide.

Water is a source of joy for children of all ages but it requires a high degree of respect and caution. 

These days drowning is newly defined as “submersion in a liquid” and doesn’t assume death which may be confusing. That is why the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), The Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) all want us to have a better understanding not only of what it is, but how drowning can affect anyone, and how it impacts society.

Too often we assume that little ones are safe in water unless we hear a lot of splashing or a call for help but sadly, these responses rarely occur. Drowning is quick and silent. That is why it’s crucial that you be informed as to what actually happens when someone is in real trouble.  

Practicing life-saving skills is the responsibility of everyone involved in the care of your children. 

Save A Little Life™ works with all parents, family members, and trusted care providers regarding the risks, how drowning actually happens, and where it occurs.  We continue to emphasize the importance of drowning prevention and, of course, what we would need to do in the event of a real health emergency.  One thing we emphasize is that drowning victims can be saved if we recognize the problem and start CPR immediately.

Below you’ll find the latest statistics on drowning. We encourage you to read them carefully with the understanding that our intention is not to scare you but to inspire you.

As we like to say, Be Informed. Be Prepared. Be Safe.

GENERAL STATISTICS:

  • There is an average of 4,012 unintentional drownings per year
  • Drowning remains among the top 4 causes of death from age 54 and up
  • Drowning is the single leading cause of death for children ages 1-4, and the second leading cause of injury-related death for children up to 14 years old
  • The U.S. averages 11 fatal drownings per day and an average of 22 non-fatal drownings per day
  • More than 40% of drownings treated in Emergency Departments require hospitalization, transfer or further care (compared with 8% of all unintentional injuries). Many of those who do not die will experience brain damage or other serious outcomes, often with long term disability
  • Drowning can occur in as little as 20-60 seconds
  • Nearly 80% of drowning deaths are among males due to increased exposure to water, risk-taking behavior and alcohol use

CHILD STATISTICS:

  • 88% of child drownings occur with at least 1 adult present
  • For every child that dies from drowning, another 7-8 require emergency department care for non-fatal drowning.  Nearly 70% of drownings of young children occur during non-swimming times
  • Two of three drowning incidents that take place in the home occur in a bathtub
  • 23% of child drownings happen during a family gathering near a pool

RACIAL AND ETHNIC GROUP STATISTICS:

  • Drowning deaths rates for Black people are 1.5 times higher than the rates for White people.  These disparities are highest among Black children  ages 5-9
  • In swimming pools, Black children ages 10-14 years drown at rates 7.6 times higher than White children
  • Black children are more likely to drown in public pools, and White children and youth in residential pools
  • Drowning rates for Native American or Alaskan Native people ages 29 and younger are 2 times higher than the rates for White people

STATISTICS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND MEDICAL CONDITIONS: 

  • People with seizure disorders such as epilepsy are at a higher risk of fatal and non-fatal drowning than the general population  
  • Other conditions such as autism and heart conditions are also associated with a higher risk of drowning

Let us all be informed and prepared.  There is so much as stake.

LIFE-SAVING TIPS FOR WHEN DROWNING OCCURS

Over the years, we’ve talked a great deal about the importance of water safety. This is a critical issue that should not be overlooked, especially during the summer months when Southern California residents are spending more time in pools, hot tubs, rivers, lakes, and oceans.

At Save A Little Life™ we like to emphasize both preventive measures and how to respond if a drowning occurs.

Let’s start with the facts:

  • Infants are most likely to drown in a bathtub or container of water in the home
  • From age 1-4 is where we see the most drownings and this is the leading cause of death in this group
  • Children that can access a body of water will do so if left unattended
  • Many of these drowning deaths occur with little, if any, noise or splashing
  • Too often there are adults or older children nearby who do not recognize when a drowning is occurring
  • The majority of pediatric drownings occur between the months of May through September

The following actions are imperative if someone is to survive a drowning event:

  • Once the situation has been identified, the victim must be pulled out of the water immediately
  • CPR should commence as quickly as possible
  • IF ALONE with an infant or child, the first thing you must do is START CPR (for up to
    2 minutes) before making a 9-1-1 call to paramedics. This gives the victim the best chance for survival
  • If a second person is present, have them call 9-1-1 and bring the phone back to where the victim is receiving CPR
  • Prior to EMS arrival, continue CPR until the victim responds with obvious breathing or someone else takes over

LEARN CPR TODAY

SEE OUR CALENDAR FOR UPCOMING CLASSES

THE TOP 4 WAYS TO PREVENT CHILDREN FROM DROWNING

If it seems like we harp on this issue a lot that is because drowning prevention should be at the top of your list when it comes to family safety issues.

Those of you who have taken our Pediatric CPR & Family Safety Class know how much emphasis we place on water safety. And for good reason. Drowning is the leading cause of pediatric death between ages 1-4. These are the curious toddlers and small children who enjoy the water but have little or no understanding of the risk involved.

National health data reminds us of the following:

• 50% of infant drownings occur in the family bathtub
• Children ages 1-4 are most likely to drown in the family swimming pool
• About 25% in this age group will drown in a lake, river or stream
• After age 10, the drowning risk for African American children is 10x greater than other ethnic groups

So, focused supervision of toddlers and small children is of the highest priority.

Specific attention should be given to:

Constant Supervision

Drowning is a quick and silent event. Toddlers and small children require constant supervision while in or near a swimming pool or any body of water.

Pool Fencing

Needs to be a minimum of 4 feet high and have a self-latching closure. High quality pool covers may be very effective but gating plus covers is the safest.

Swimming Lessons

Swimming lessons do not prevent drowning but are an essential part of risk prevention. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggest that swimming lessons should begin at age 1. The AAP reminds us that swimming lessons reduce the risk of fatal drowning risk by 88%!

CPR Training

All adults and teenagers care providers need to have current CPR training! Even with the high prevalence of drowning events, many of these little ones can be revived with CPR.

Reminder:

If alone with a drowning infant or child, begin CPR FIRST…for up to 2 minutes before calling 9-1-1.

It may seem like the risks are fewer this year because you’re at home and not venturing far but as we’ve demonstrated above, as long as water is accessible, the potential for drowning is high. So, please make this a safe at-home summer and enjoy your tubs, pools and other bodies of water safely.

 

Find out more about

Save A Little Life’s

PEDIATRIC CPR & FAMILY SAFETY CLASS

We offer safe training options the whole family can participate in

 

 

PREVENTING PEDIATRIC DROWNINGS

I’ve just returned from the National Drowning Prevention Alliance‘s (NDPA) 2017 educational conference and am more motivated than ever to relay this important message to you:

DROWNING IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH

IN THE 1-4 YEAR AGE GROUP

It also remains a leading killer of children of all ages.

For that reason, we must do everything in our power to recognize the potential threat and keep our little ones safe.

If you attend the NDPA conference it’s impossible to avoid the reality that many families in the organization have already lost an infant or child to a drowning event.  Every region of the U.S. is represented by families whose mission is singular: no baby or child should ever drown, and they are determined to make that a reality.

As a featured presenter, I did my best to speak directly to the subject of why immediate CPR is the best and perhaps only way to save lives once a child is pulled out of a bathtub, pool, hot tub or ocean.

I found myself delivering my speech shortly after a talk given by an emergency room physician and paramedic whose son had drown at age 4.  Along with all the other devastated families, they too had believed that this could never happen to them.  And yet it did, and in the presence of adult supervision. Their child simply submerged with little, if any noise and was not discovered until it was too late. Due to the length of submersion and the delay in initiating CPR, by the time help arrived, paramedic response was of little use.

Following that presentation, I went to the podium ready to share what I know but quickly realized that this was an audience the likes of which I had never addressed. In my E.R. days I saw firsthand the devastation brought about by drowning but it was also there that I discovered most infants and children pulled from the water survive due to action taken prior to the arrival of paramedics. Since then, I have worked with a number of clients who have pulled unconscious children from water, children who have survived due to quick responsive action before the arrival of the 9-1-1 team. The people attending the conference, however, were people for whom there had been no last-minute turnaround, no happy outcome, so I hesitated briefly before acknowledging the strength and courage of the mothers, fathers, grandparents and others who show up in spite of their loss to say NO to drowning.  It was an extremely emotional moment in what was to be a very emotional week.

One of the  highlights of the conference was a talk by Dr. John Fletmeyer, a world renowned expert in all aspects of drowning.  His comments were confirmation of truths I have come to understand.

That is:

  •  “No one who is drowning yells for help.” A person who is drowning is in a desperate battle to stay above water and breath.  Many drownings occur without a witness.
  • Every drowning is unique. Any combination of circumstances and conditions can conspire to take a young life.
  • Video and film depictions of drownings are almost always fictitious, yet viewed as fact. Consequently, many parents assume that a drowning would automatically be observed, understood and responded to immediately.
  • One in five (20%) of the pediatric drownings in the U.S. occur in the presence of an adult who does not recognize what is occurring.

One aspect of Dr. Fletmeyer’s talk that really struck me was a simple comment on lifeguarding.  In addressing parents who hire a lifeguard for pool parties and the like, he was adamant in saying “Lifeguards are not babysitters.”  Dr. Fletmeyer stressed the importance of parents being present in the pool with their children and staying focused on them the entire time they are in the water, whether there’s a lifeguard or not.

I left the NDPA conference with a much stronger sense of the need for comprehensive prevention measures.  It also left me with a renewed commitment to teach CPR to as many parents, family members and care providers as I can.

If anything is going to change with respect to preventing pediatric drownings, an extraordinary amount of preventive action will be required. That begins with a clear understanding of how crucial it is for CPR to begin immediately following a drowning.

Summer is rapidly approaching and seasonal statistics tell us that increased numbers of drownings will happen.

Save A Little Life’s goal is to join the NDPA in saying NO to drownings.

Please, join us in a class today.

Richard Pass, RN, BS, Director, Save A Little Life ™

 

View our CALENDAR for a list of upcoming classes

 

For More Information visit the NDPA web site

WATER SAFETY TO PREVENT DROWNING

It sometimes takes a well-publicized drowning death to get parents and care providers re-focused on what remains a major health risk to infants & children. Well over one thousand drowning deaths occur annually to children in this country. This serves a reminder that we cannot be overly lax when it comes to water safety.

We know from statistical data where most water-related deaths occur. According to the National Center of Health Statistics, this is where children drown:

  • 50% of infant drowning deaths occur in bathtubs
  • Children ages 1-4 drown most often (56%) in swimming pools
  • 26% of the 1-4 age group drown in “natural bodies of water”, i.e. lakes, rivers & streams
  • Buckets of water (no data provided) remain a risk to the infant & small child
  • After age 10, the risk of drowning is 10 times greater for African-American males. This disparity was particularly evident in African American children over the age of 4 through adolescence

Swimming pools remain the greatest risk for all children between the ages of 1-4. It remains imperative that constant and adequate supervision take place for all children while in or around all bodies of water.

Specifically, the musts include:

  • Installation of fencing around residential pools at least 4 feet in height.
  • Use of flotation devices when riding in a boat or playing near a river, lake or the ocean.
  • Education focused on children not being left alone or without adult supervision.
  • Reminder of the dangers of drug and alcohol consumption for anyone in a body of water.
  • The need for parents, teens and other care providers to learn CPR!
  • The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all children, after the age of 5, learn how to swim.

Drowning remains the second leading cause of unintentional death in the 1-19 age group. This should be a reminder that all parents remain vigilant in order to protect and safeguard our loved ones.

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CPR GUIDELINES FOR DROWNING

As the weather heats up in Southern California, so does the risk of drowning. Drowning is the second leading cause of fatalities in the pediatric population and, as we know, too many of these events occur in the presence of a parent or care provider.

Our overriding emphasis should be focused on primary prevention. Should these measures fail, the immediate focus is on CPR, well before the arrival of the paramedics.

A recent study, published by the Department of Emergency Medicine at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, NSW, Australia tends to confirm what is already well established: Bystander CPR is a major factor for a good outcome in near-drowning episodes.

During an 11 day period in January, 2007 (Summer season in Australia), eight children experienced drowning or near-drowning events. Four of the victims received CPR within 5 minutes of immersion and survived with good functional neurological outcomes (no brain damage.) The other four were not discovered for over 5 minutes and all of those children died.

Experts in the field of emergency medicine acknowledge that survival of drowning victims is usually a result of immediate CPR, prior to the arrival of paramedics. Many of those who survive are already conscious and breathing by the time an emergency responder arrives.

IF ALONE WITH A DROWNING VICTIM

If we hope to give the victim a chance of survival, CPR needs to be started IMMEDIATELY upon getting the victim out of the water. IF you are alone with the victim, perform CPR for at least 2 minutes before attempting to call 9-1-1. The current CPR guideline for drowning victims is 30 chest compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths. This is the same technique for victims on dry land.

Remember, the key emphasis is always on prevention. The gold standard of safety with babies & children is to remain within arms reach and always be focused on them.

Have a safe and fun summer season!

HOW TO REDUCE YOUR CHILD’S RISK OF DROWNING

Drowning remains the second leading cause of injury death for infants and children less than 15 years of age in the U.S. Adding to this, children under 5 years of age and adolescents between 15-19 years have the highest rates of drowning in the country.

How are parents to respond to these figures? What can you do to create a safe environment in your home thus reducing the risk of a drowning accident?

The experts in prevention make their points quite clear to all parents of children at risk. These important safety tips include:
•    Never leave an infant or small child unattended in the bathroom, even for a few minutes
•    Never leave a child alone at the poolside
•    Teach children water and swimming skills as early as possible

If you own a pool, you should take these special precautions:

  •  Safeguard your pool with a four sided fence of at least 5 feet in height Completely around the pool
  •   The gate should have a self-closing latch and be above the child’s reach
  • If possible, alarm all doors leaving the home that lead to your pool
  • Install a motor-driven safety pool cover to securely cover the water area
  • Install a phone at poolside with emergency numbers clearly posted and or programmed into a speed dial format

Further statistics reveal that children between 5-19 most often drown in lakes, ponds, rivers and pools. Clearly, we cannot gate and cover their entire world so precaution & prevention need to be at the top of our priority list.

WHAT TO DO IF A DROWNING OCCURS

First and foremost, be ready by having taken a CPR COURSE and try to sharpen those skills annually at the very least.

Should you pull a child from the water and they are not responding to usual stimuli,  do the following:

  1. Check for breathing. If no breath is present, immediately open their airway and attempt 2 rescue breaths.
  2. If no air enters the lungs, re-tilt the head & try again. If air enters then….
  3. Check for signs of circulation (moving, breathing, coughing.)
  4. If signs of circulation are present but breathing is questionable, give rescue breaths every 3 seconds.
  5. If no signs of circulation are present, BEGIN CPR – 5 chest compressions followed by another breath.
    Continue rescue breathing or CPR (chest compressions and breathing) until the paramedics have arrived or until child responds. Consider supportive breathing if the child’s breathing is weak or very slow.

NOTE:  If alone with an infant or child – do 1 minute of CPR or rescue breathing before calling paramedics.

HEIMLICH MANEUVER?

This life-saving maneuver is useful only in the event that a solid foreign body object is lodged i.e. food, vomit, mucus, plastic toy. According to the American Heart Assn. Emergency Cardiac Care recommendations,  The Heimlich maneuver is not appropriate in near-drowning or drowning situations unless there is clear evidence of an airway obstruction.

If you have children, apply the principles of good safety and prevention,

and have a good summer!!