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River Valley Pediatrics |
531 Central Park Avenue, Suite 102
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Drowning Drowning is one of the most prevalent preventable deaths in children. Toddlers are at greatest risk of drowning, both in bathtub related accidents and in pool, ocean, or freshwater incidents. Constant supervision of children of all ages is the most important way to prevent drowning. Children should never be left alone in a bathtub, even for a moment. Children should always be observed when they are anywhere near a pool or body of water. Flotation devices like bubbles or floaties cannot be relied upon to protect children. Pools should be surrounded by approved fences on all four sides. There is some preliminary evidence that children who have taken swimming lessons are less likely to drown than children without swimming lessons. This must be taken with caution, however, since many children who drown do actually know how to swim. The ability to swim is no substitute for supervision. Learning CPR and teaching children how to dial 911 are also critical. Adolescent drownings are often associated with alcohol. Awareness and open discussions can help prevent these tragedies. |
