As the summer has begunA recent report highlights the importance of swimming and water safety strategies.
According to a report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 4,000 people in the U.S. die from unintentional drowning each year, with the highest rate among children ages 1 to 4.
drowning is the leading cause of death Children aged 4 years and underIt is one of the three leading causes of unintentional injury deaths among people aged 5 to 34, the report said.
Drowning prevention: Keep children safe in and around water with these tips
“With drownings on the rise across the U.S., especially among young children, it’s more important than ever to ensure that water safety is always a top priority,” said Megan Ferraro, Executive Director of The ZAC Foundation.
It’s a Connecticut-based organization that develops educational programs and resources for swimmers of all ages and abilities, he wrote in an email to Fox News Digital.
Each year, approximately 4,000 people in the U.S. die from unintentional drowning, with most deaths occurring among children ages 1 to 4. (iStock)
The number of deaths due to unintentional drowning has increased in the past few years. covid pandemicThe report has been revealed.
The CDC said increased drowning rates between 2020 and 2022 may be due to disruptions in infrastructure, limited access to supervised swimming sites and individuals spending more time in or near the water.
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Despite these risks, more than half of U.S. adults have never learned to swim.
Before beach and pool season kicks off, several swimming and water officials shared these eight water safety measures to prevent tragic drowning incidents.
1. Choose swimsuit colors carefully
Some swim instructors recommend dressing children in brightly colored swimsuits and avoiding colors that will blend in with the surrounding water.
Some swim instructors recommend dressing children in brightly colored swimsuits and avoiding colors that will blend in with the surrounding water. (iStock)
Nikki Scarnati, a certified infant swimming resource instructor in Florida, used her TikTok platform to warn parents to avoid purchasing blue or pastel-colored bathing suits, as this can make them hard to identify. kids in the water,
In his 2023 social media post, he showed how it is easier to see bright colors like red in splashing water.
2. Don’t give up learning swimming
Water safety instructors recommend enrolling children at an early age Seek swimming lessons through local organizations.
“Studies have shown that swimming lessons reduce the incidence of childhood drowning by 88%,” Ferraro said.
Many organizations, such as the American Red Cross, offer swimming classes to help people become more comfortable in the water and become stronger, safer swimmers.
“Studies have shown that swimming lessons reduce the incidence of childhood drowning by up to 88%.”
Experts also suggest taking additional precautions, such as installing alarms and gates, to prevent children from entering the pool area unsupervised.
3. Be aware of high-risk children
“Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death for children with autism,” Lindsay Neder, Philadelphia-based vice president of community impact for Autism Speaks, told Fox News Digital.
Water safety instructors recommend enrolling children in swimming lessons at an early age through local organizations. (iStock)
Naeder stressed the importance of educating beach and pool lifeguards on how to recognize signs of distress in swimmers with autism.
“You can work with lifeguards to understand different autistic behaviors and learn how to best communicate with an autistic person, especially during an unsafe situation,” Naeder told Fox News Digital via email.
4. Establish safety measures for older swimmers
Some experts told Fox News Digital that when caring for adults with dementia, installing gates and pool alarms can prevent dangerous situations if the person becomes confused and wanders off.
“The caregivers Older Adults “People with dementia need to identify potentially dangerous areas near their homes, such as pools and all water bodies,” Ferraro told Fox News Digital.
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He recommends choosing an alarm that beeps when the pool door is opened or if there is movement on the surface of the water.
“Make sure any senior with dementia never swims alone,” he said. “A swimming companion or guardian should always be nearby.”
5. Learn the ABCDEs
Ferraro told Fox News Digital that parents and caregivers should use multiple layers of protection when it comes to keeping families safe in and around the water.
Experts say installing locking fences and other barriers around the water is an essential component of pool safety. (iStock)
“This means following the ABCDEs of water safety: A stands for Adult Supervision is for B Odds Around water, C is for swimming ClassesD means to avoid Drain Trapping and use equipment such as a Coast Guard-approved lifejacket, and the E stands for everywhere — because water is all around us,” he said.
6. Be cautious when in large groups
As pool party season begins, it’s important to stay vigilant.
“In large groups, like at a pool party, everyone assumes that someone else is looking after the kids in the pool — this is called diffusion of responsibility,” warns Ferraro.
“Never assume that someone else is watching your kids around the water.”
“Never assume that someone else is watching your children around water, as this can have deadly consequences.”
Parents should make sure that Ferraro said kids should be swimming in areas designated by lifeguards — and even if lifeguards are present, it’s important to keep close, constant supervision over them.
Parents should make sure children are swimming in areas designated by lifeguards, and even if lifeguards are present, it’s important to keep close, constant supervision. (iStock)
He suggested, “An adult ‘water-watcher’ should be appointed whose sole responsibility is to keep a vigilant eye on people in the water at all times.”
“Never leave a child alone in or near water, not even for a second. Make sure children stay within arm’s length of an adult at all times when at the pool or beach.”
7. Ensure the safety of pets
It’s also important to protect yourself Safety of pets In the water, said Ferrara with the ZAC Foundation.
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“Always supervise your pet around water and never leave them unattended,” he said. “Keep in mind that not all dog breeds are natural swimmers.”
8. Be mindful of water differences
Experts warn that open water swimming is different from swimming in a pool.
“If you can swim well in a backyard pool, that doesn’t mean you can swim well in the ocean,” George Gorman Jr., regional director for the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, told Fox News Digital.
Experts warn that open water swimming is different from swimming in a pool. (iStock)
“You have to stay close to the coast and gain experience.”
Gorman, who oversees several marine areas along the shores of New York’s Long Island, also warned people to be careful of strong currents that can occur there. Sea Water,
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“If you’re caught in a rip current, don’t fight it. Instead, swim parallel to the shore until you feel the current slowing down and you can get out of it,” he advised.
He also recommends swimming with a partner and keeping a distance of about 25 feet if you encounter strong currents.
A lifeguard watches people swimming in the Atlantic Ocean at the Jersey Shore in Middletown, New Jersey, on June 27, 2020. An expert warned people to be careful of possible strong currents in the ocean water. (Gary Hershorn/Getty Images)
“This way, your partner will have time to react and run away to get help.”
To avoid unwanted encounters with some marine life, like a sharkGorman said to avoid dirty water and keep an eye out for signs that big fish are nearby.
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“If you see fish jumping or seabirds diving in the water, it usually means there are smaller fish in that area — therefore, larger fish will be moving in that direction to eat those smaller fish,” Gorman said.
It is also wise to avoid areas where large fish, such as seals or dolphins, have been seen.
