Preventing Drowning
By Anne Cavicchi, Fri Dec 9th

Did you know that drowning is the second most common cause ofdeath from injury for children aged 1 to 4 years old? Childrenunder four are at risk beause they move very quickly but are notalways aware of the dangers around them. As parents, it is ourjob to minimize the dangers.

Drowning hazzards in and around the home account for about 50%of all toddler drownings (according to the Canadian Red CrossWater Safety Service). The peak age for toddler drownings is age3 for boys and two for girls. 55% of infant drownings occur inthe bathtub, while 30% of toddler drownings occur in backyardswimming pools.

A young child can drown in as little as 2 1/2 inches of water.For every toddler that drowns, six to 10 almost drown. Neardrownings can result in permanent brain damage. Most of thesedrownings or near drownings are very preventable.

In your home:

Empty water from wading pools, buckets, and baths immediatelyafter use Never leave a baby or young child alone in the bathfor even a moment. Keep toilet lids down too -- better yet, geta toilet seat lock. Young children must be watched constantlynear pools, drainage ditches, ponds, docks and beaches. Learnfirst aid, including rescue breathing (for more info on infantCPR, click here) Babies under one year of age may enjoy thewater, but they really do not have the physical strength andcoordination to swim. When your child is older, look forswimming instruction that teach a progression of water skillsand safety. Do remember though that swimming lessons will not'drown-proof' your child.

Since home swimming pools create a very big and real hazzard,follow these steps to minimize the risks:

Completely enclose outdoor pools on all sides. Make sure thatthe gate is self closing and latching. Install a pool sidetelephone and rescue aids Get trained in first aid and CPR Neverleave your children unattended in or around the pool, not evenfor a moment. Hot tubs and children also don't mix. Ensure thatyour hot tub is covered very securly when not in use. Inaddition to the dangers

of drowning, hot tubs pose other risksto children. The water temperature may be too high for them totolerate -- temperatures over 100 degrees may increase a childsheartrate to dangerous levels.

Water play can be great fun -- please play safe!

About the author:Anne Cavicchi is a married working mother with one son and twostepdaughters. She is also the owner of maternitycorner.com. Sheenjoys spending time together with her family, golfing,photography and offering advice and support for new Moms andDads.