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eNEWSLETTERS

Let’s Talk About Swimming Safety!

Swimming Safety
Well my friends it is finally summer and the weather’s hot! We hope you can take some time out of your busy schedules to get outside and enjoy some summer activities, like swimming; after all it can be used as a great workout!
However, we want you to be educated about the dangers of swimming; according to CHP.edu drowning is the leading cause of unintentional-illness related death for children ages 1-4. Nearly 800 children fall victims to drowning yearly. Drowning can occur in a matter of seconds and often happens silently when an unsupervised child is near water.
With this is mind, we have compiled a list of swimming safety tips for you and your family to discuss and become familiar with.

The Dangers of Swimming
Content provided by the National SAFE KIDS Campaign

A child loses consciousness after being submerged in water for two minutes.
Irreversible brain damage sets in after four to six minutes of being submerged in water.
Most children die if they are found after 10 minutes of being submerged in water.

Parents; how you can protect your little ones

Never leave your child unsupervised when around a body of water.
Learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and infant and child first-aid.
Do not rely on personal floatation devices or even swimming lessons to protect your child.
Install safety fences around pool areas.
Have a first aid kit on hand.

The Basics
When your child is swimming, have them keep these tips in mind;
Content provided by Chp.edu

Learn the depths of the pool

How tall are you?
How deep does it get?

Know your limits

Don’t swim to the deep side of the pool just because everyone else is doing it, stay where you feel comfortable.

Never swim alone. Always have a parental guardian or friend around. Use the buddy system.
Never swim during a storm. Usually when there is thunder there is lightening!
Only swim in designated areas.
Do not jump or dive into an area that is less than 12 feet deep.
You should never run around a poolside, push people in, or dunk other swimmers.
Don’t chew gum or eat food while swimming, playing or diving in the pool.
Take swimming lessons, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends everyone 4 years of age an older take some type of swimming lesson.

To find local swimming classes, visit:

When swimming in the ocean be aware of rip tides and currents. Do not run into waves, as they can sweep your feet right out from under you.
Rivers are very dangerous for swimming, it is best to stay out of them, as there is no lifeguard on duty.

Protect your family from RWI
Recreational Water Illnesses (RWI) are spread by swallowing, breathing in mists or aerosols of, or having contact with contaminated recreational waters such as; pools, hot tubs, water parks, lakes, and the ocean. Although most RWI’s can be killed by chlorine, it usually doesn’t work right away and sometimes doesn’t work at all.
RWI’s can cause a wide variety of infections, including

Gastrointestinal Infections

The most common symptom is diarrhea, caused by germs known as crypto

Skin Infections
Swimmer’s Ear
Eye infections
Neurological and Wound Infections

To learn more about RWI’s, please visit: http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/rwi/rwi-basics.html

Healthy Swimming
Have the kids fill out this water safety quiz to see how water savvy they really are!
http://www.chp.edu/cs/Satellite?c=eHA_Content_C&cid=1189459483395&pagename=CHP%2FeHA_Content_C%2FCHP%2FTemplate%2FCHP_Layout_04_Content_Page_Template
Sources:
http://www.chp.edu/CHP/Swimming
http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/rwi/rwi-what.html
http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cfocus/cfhealthtips03/focus.htm
http://www.fayettecountyga.gov/health/environmental/safe_kids_campaign.htm
http://www.safekids.org/

Missouri