During the summertime, kids of all ages spend more time around pools and natural bodies of water, like lakes, ponds, rivers and the ocean.
While water activities offer a great way to cool off from the summer heat, it’s important to know that they can be very dangerous without proper supervision and safety guidelines.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death in children age 1-14, and for every child who dies from drowning, another eight will need emergency care for the effects of non-fatal drowning.
“Children can begin drowning in just a few moments, and in a lot of cases, they don’t show clear signs of distress,” says pediatric emergency medicine physician Susan Yaeger, MD, with Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital. “The best way to protect kids from drowning is taking preventative steps before they intentionally – or unintentionally – come in contact with a pool or other body of water.”
Whether you are a parent, guardian or an adult who may find themselves in charge of a child while near a pool or body of water, Dr. Yaeger shares some important water safety reminders: