Safe Kids North Central Florida urges focus on water safety

Press release from Safe Kids North Central Florida

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Safe Kids North Central Florida (SKNCFL), led by UF Health Shands, is urging families, caregivers, and community leaders to take water safety seriously following a troubling increase in drowning and submersion-related injuries across the region. In less than two months, our area has already experienced a heartbreaking number of drowning and submersion-related incidents. 

Florida continues to lead the nation in drowning deaths among children under the age of five. Drowning remains one of the leading causes of preventable death for young children, and it can happen quickly, silently, and in as little as a few inches of water. 

“These incidents are not isolated accidents; they are preventable tragedies,” said Jordyn Zyngier, SKNCFL and Injury Prevention Coordinator at UF Health. “As a community, we must move beyond awareness and toward action. Water safety has to be a priority for every parent, caregiver, and adult supervising children near water, especially as we enter the summer season.”

According to national data, more than 1,000 children drown each year in the United States, and thousands more are treated in emergency departments for submersion injuries. Even a brief lapse in supervision can have serious consequences. Studies show that although 90 percent of parents say they supervise their children while swimming, many acknowledge that they engage in other distracting activities at the same time, like talking, eating, reading, or taking care of another child. 

“Every submersion injury and drowning is devastating because so many are preventable,” said Dr. Shawn Larson, UF Health pediatric trauma surgeon. “Drowning is often silent, fast, and can happen even when adults are nearby. Situational awareness around any body of water must be constant. We urge families to designate an attentive adult whose sole responsibility is watching children in and around water. A moment of distraction can change a life forever.”

SKNCFL recommends the following tips to keep kids safe in and around water: 

• Use the Water Watcher strategy. When there are several adults present and children are swimming, use the Water Watcher card to designate an adult as the Water Watcher for a certain amount of time (such as 15-minute periods) to prevent lapses in supervision and give parents a chance to read, make phone calls, or take a bathroom break. Children should be actively supervised in and around water, without distraction. 
• Use barriers and alarms. Install four-sided fencing with self latching gates, safety covers, and pool alarms to help prevent unsupervised access to water. 
• Teach kids not to swim alone. Whether you’re swimming in a backyard pool or in a river, teach children to swim with an adult. Older, more experienced swimmers should still swim with a partner every time. From the first time your kids swim, teach children to never go near or in water without an adult present.
• Wear life jackets. Always have your children wear a life jacket approved by the U.S. Coast Guard while on boats, around open bodies of water, or when participating in water sports. Make sure the life jacket fits snugly. Have the child make a “touchdown” signal by raising both arms straight up; if the life jacket hits the child’s chin or ears, it may be too big or the straps may be too loose. 
• Practice bathtub safety. Never leave a child unattended in the bathtub, even for a moment. Drowning can occur quickly and silently in just a few inches of water. Stay within arm’s reach, avoid distractions, and drain the tub immediately after use. 
• Learn CPR. Learning CPR can save a child’s life in an emergency and provides caregivers with added confidence and preparedness. 

To learn more water safety tips, visit: http://www.safekids.org/poolsafety