Strollerderby : water safety

Five-Year Old Saves Toddler from Drowning

Shannon LC Cate — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 15:00:00 GMT

Five-year old Riley Braden has been swimming since she was two. A few weeks ago, her skills paid off in a big way. When Riley was swimming with some friends in a hotel pool, she noticed an 18-month old child in distress. As Riley describes it:

"She didn't have her floaties on and her parents weren't watching. I saved her. I dashed and I pushed off the wall with my feet and went down and got her."

A witness said Riley appeared on the surface with the child in her arms, declaring "I've got the baby!" She returned the child to her parents who were visiting from out of town.

Riley, who will be six next week, isn't sure what she wants for her birthday. But if I was that toddler's mother, I'd buy her a pony. Or two!

They Say: Early Swim Lessons Help Prevent Drowning

Kate Tuttle — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 14:57:00 GMT

And we say, duh. But it's not quite as obvious as it sounds, it turns out. Apparently, the accepted wisdom regarding swimming lessons had been to hold of until a child is five or older -- that's according to the old advice from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Their fear was that younger kids who had had lessons (and their parents) would be endangered by a false sense of confidence around bodies of water. And after all, you can drown even if you've had swimming lessons.

But a new study suggests that swimming lessons for kids of all ages can help prevent drowning. Researchers looked at child deaths by drowning over a two-year period, comparing the victims' experience with swimming against other children the same age in their locations. According to lead author Dr. Ruth A. Brenner, the data indicated that swimming lessons did decrease the risk of drowning among young children (though the study adds the standard caution that even good swimmers can drown).

Does this mean you should ever let your young kids run around near an ungated pool, or leave them to swim unsupervised? Hell no. But does it mean that early exposure to water and swimming are not just a fun warm-weather activity but can also provide valuable skills that may help them in the future? Yes. Now if only I could find a mom-friendly swimsuit...

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Toddlers Can Drown in a Bucket

Karen Murphy — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 18:17:00 GMT

Or a tub. In seconds. The Consumer Product Safety Commission, our new best friend through all the recent toy recalls, is reminding parents that way too many toddlers drown in bathtubs and buckets.

I can't even imagine how devastating it would be for this to happen to one of my children. It only takes a few seconds, they say, turning away for just a moment. You know how fast toddlers can move when they want to and when it's not your idea.

So the CPSC is recommending that parents and caregivers follow these safety tips when children are around bathtubs, spas, buckets, or decorative ponds or fountains:

Never leave young children alone near any water. Young children can drown in even small amounts of water.
Always keep a young child within arm's reach in a bathtub. Never leave to answer the phone, answer the door, get a towel or for any other reason. If you must leave, take the child with you.
Don't leave a baby or toddler in a bathtub under the care of another young child.
Never leave a bucket containing even a small amount of liquid unattended. Toddlers can fall headfirst into buckets and drown. After using a bucket, always empty and store it where young children cannot reach it. Buckets left outside can collect rainwater and are a hazard.
Prevent children from gaining access to spas or hot tubs when not in use; always secure with safety covers and barriers.
Learn CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). It can be a lifesaver when seconds count.

I know you guys know this stuff, but I also know that it's possible that a reminder could save a life.

Heroic Kids: Eight-Year-Old Saves Toddler From Drowning

Kelly Mills — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 19:17:00 GMT

Brave Sarah Ellingwood may only be eight, but she wasn't too young to save a life. While enjoying a day at the lake with family and friends, she noticed a child in the water. She put on her life jacket and jumped in. According to Sarah, "'He (the toddler) came back up, and then he went back down. At first, I thought he was one of the bigger kids. But something told me to go closer to see what it was.'" She found toddler Avery in the water, calling for his dad. Sarah pulled Avery to shore, and returned him to his grateful father.

Avery's dad had one of those terrifying parent moments: one minute your child is right next to you, and the next you don't see him anywhere. But thanks to Sarah, everything turned out okay. And by the way, Sarah says she isn't even much of a swimmer. Her dad, Senior Master Sergeant Darren Ellingwood had proud words for his daughter. "'She does better than she claims to do,' Sergeant Ellingwood said. 'She can dog paddle pretty good. She is just a big-hearted kid who normally does the right thing. It was pure instinct (for her) and the desire to help someone in need.'" Somebody give that little girl a hug and a medal.

Swimming Lessons Merely Part of Real Water Safety

Patti — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 19:28:00 GMT

When I was growing up in Arizona, the beginning of summer was when the first kid drowned. Or maybe it was when the first kid got left in an overheated car, I can't remember anymore. The point is that learning to swim in your own backyard before you can even walk doesn't mean you know a thing about water safety, and might even make you more vulnerable.

According to Safe Kids Canada, learning to swim is only one of what they call the five layers of protection from water-related injury or death. The other four layers might even be more important: adult supervision, parental training for emergencies, barriers around the water, and life jackets.

Seriously, go get your CPR certification and don't let your kids out of your sight in the pool or lake. Teach your kids to swim, but more urgently, teach them how to be safe around water. And don't think they're okay on their own just because they're older—a fourteen-year-old California boy drowned in a public pool this week in the presence of multiple lifeguards and adult chaperones.

Safety Dance: Pool Safety Tips Keep Everyone Afloat

Stefania Pomponi Butler (CityMama) — Mon, 14 May 2007 16:29:00 GMT

Summer's here and that means swimming pool fun, but be safe out there, especially if you have kids under the age of 14.

Drowning is the second leading cause of death among kids in this age group and being outside or at the pool isn't enough. To ensure your children's safety, you need to be observant (not chatting on your cell phone or reading a magazine), and always know your child's limitations.

Other safety tips include:

Making sure pools and spas are enclosed properly.
Installing alarms on all doors, windows, and gates leading to the pool, as well as in the pool itself.
Not leaving toys in the pool where they can be irresistable to non-swimmers
Enrolling children in real swimming lessons (not water awareness classes) when they are about 4-years-old.

I'd like to add that if you have a beach vacation planned this summer, pay attention to signs marking beaches with strong currents or undertow. Even capable adult swimmers can run into trouble on unfamiliar beaches. Also, stick to well-attended beaches. "Locals only" beaches are "locals only" for a reason.

Following these safety tips will keep everyone's head above water this summer. See you at the pool...and beach!