Water Safety

McKenzie Pediatrics 2015

Drowning:

Fatal drowning claims the lives of an annual average of 1100 children under age 20 years
An average of 3800 children annual are seen in an ED for a nonfatal drowning event�more than 60% of these are hospitalized
Risks: drain entrapment and/or hair entanglement, inflatable portable pools, in-ground pools, standing water in buckets or troughs or toilets, bathtubs (esp. if left unmonitored in bath seat that tips), unmonitored play near natural bodies of water or irrigation ditches
Children are NOT developmentally ready for swimming lessons until after their fourth birthday, though �mommy and me� water classes in ages 6 months and older are acceptable so long as the parent understands that such lessons do not constitute �swim lessons� but rather teach water familiarity
Prevention:
- Never, even for a moment, leave a young child unmonitored or in the care of another young child near bathtubs, pools, spas, hot tubs, wading pools, irrigation ditches, or any natural body of water
- Identify all water risks near the home and near the home of a daycare provider as well.
- Safety barriers for home pools are available online from the CPSC
- Do NOT use air-filled swimming aids (such as inflatable arm bands) but instead use personal floatation devices (PFDs, �life jackets�)
- Children should be taught never to swim alone and not to swim without adult supervision
- Parents, caregivers, and pool owners should learn CPR and keep life buoys, life jackets, and a reach tool such as a shepherd�s crook at poolside
- All children should be required to wear a PFD when riding in watercraft
- Know the depth of the water and location of underwater hazards before permitting jumping or diving

Portable Above-Ground Pools

209 fatal and 35 nonfatal submersion cases in US from 2001-2009.
94% involved children under the age of 5.
73% occurred in the child�s own yard, and 81% during the summer months.

Private Wells

15-20% of US households obtain their water from private wells
Little regulation of private wells exist, despite the risks of contamination by pollutant chemicals or pathogenic organisms
With few exceptions, well owners are responsible for their own wells
Waterborne illnesses include SSYC, norovirus, hepatitis A, E. Coli, rotavirus, giardia, cryptosporidium, cyclospora, isospora, naegleria fowleri
Potential toxic chemicals include nitrates, lead, arsenic, chromium, perchlorate
In the case of a new home, the builder should provide the results of coliform, nitrate, inorganic, fluoride, radon, and lead testing.
In the case of purchase of an existing home with a well, families should arrange for well inspection every spring (esp. for coliforms and nitrates)

Bathtubs & Showers:

791,000 bathtub and shower-related injuries (seen in ED) among children <18 years of age from 1990-2007
60% laceration
Slips, trips, and falls account for 81% of injuries
Face (48%) most common, followed by head/neck (15%)
Children <4 years of age accounted for 54% of injuries