As summer continues and families head to pools, lakes and water parks, it’s crucial to be safe around water.
Drowning is a sudden and tragic event that affects too many families each year. In Arizona, drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4 years old, and the second leading cause of unintentional injury for children ages 5 to 14 years old.
Aside from pools and large bodies of water, common household items such as toilets and mop buckets can also pose a significant drowning risk to young children.
Drownings are preventable
The Arizona Department of Health Services’ Bureau of EMS and Trauma System (BEMSTS) Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) Program aims to improve outcomes of EMS-pediatric drowning encounters in Arizona by collaborating with Arizona communities, EMS officials and public health officials. We all have a part to pay:
- Emergency Medical Services providers can help prevent pediatric drownings by providing families with evidence-based drowning prevention education and pool barrier code information.
- Public health officials and schools can help prevent pediatric drownings by providing families with resources that prevent pediatric drownings to families and youth.
- Arizona residents can help prevent pediatric drownings by visiting the Drowning Prevention Coalition of Arizona webpage and learning how to prevent pediatric drownings.
You can prevent child drownings by following the ABCDs of drowning prevention. It’s important to always think about safety around water. By taking these simple steps, we can all protect our children and communities.
A- Adult supervision: Drownings are lightning fast and are often silent. Constant and undistracted supervision is key and you should avoid distractions like reading, cell phone use and alcohol consumption.
B- Barriers: Make sure your pool has effective barriers such as pool fences with self-closing, self-latching gates and pool covers to prevent children’s unsupervised access to water.
C- Classes: Swimming lessons for children and water safety education for both children and adults can significantly reduce the risk of drowning. Adults should also consider CPR and first aid training. Check with your local town or city to see about available classes near you.
D- Devices: Use life jackets for children who cannot swim when in open water.
Arizona communities, public health officials and first responders all have a critical role to play in helping to prevent these tragedies. Let’s all continue working together to protect our youngest and most vulnerable residents and have a safe and fun summer.
Rachel Garcia, MPH, MCHES, is the deputy assistant director of preparedness, chief of Emergency Medical Service and Trauma, and principal investigator for the CDC Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity Program at the Arizona Department of Health Services.
