Keep your kids safe from drowning


Houston (May 25, 2006) - Memorial Day weekend signals the start of summer
vacations and, all too often, drownings. Texas Children's Hospital urges all
adults to keep a close eye on children around water.

"Each year some 20 children in Harris County drown. Already this year there
have been at least 10 drownings in the Houston area-and at least 3 other
children who will have severe and permanent impairment," said Susan Hirtz,
manager of Texas Children's Center for Childhood Injury Prevention. "Most
happen quickly and quietly in residential swimming pools or open water
areas, like lakes."

The most important precaution is to actively supervise any child in or near
water. Give them your undivided attention - no talking, eating, reading,
taking care of another child or other distracting activities.

"In 10 seconds a child can slip underwater. In less than two minutes under
water, a child can lose consciousness. That's why, especially for toddlers,
they should never be out of reach when near a pool or body of water," Hirtz
cautioned.

Drowning is the No. 1 cause of death for children 1-3 years old and the
second leading cause of death for children ages 14 and under. To keep
children safe, Texas Children's Hospital and SAFE KIDS Greater Houston
recommends these precautions:

.. Put as many layers of protection between your child and a backyard pool as
possible. Lock doors and windows leading to the pool. Add door alarms or
self-closing/self-latching devices for outside doors. Fences at least 6 feet
tall around the outer edge of the property are required of homes with pools
in Houston. Pool fences, called isolation fences, should be at least 4 feet
high and go all the way around the pool. Look for self-closing and
self-latching gates. Also, gate alarms and pool alarms can be installed to
alert you when someone is in or around the pool area. Keep rescue equipment,
a phone and emergency numbers by the pool.

.. Enroll kids age 4 and older in swimming lessons taught by a certified
instructor - but don't assume swimming lessons make your child
"drown-proof."

.. Learn infant and child CPR. Classes are offered by the Red Cross and
several EMS locations.

.. Young children can drown in as little as 1 inch of water. Stay with your
child when he or she is in the bathtub, even if he or she is with an older
sibling. Keep toilet lids shut and use toilet locks if you have an infant or
toddler in the house. Also, empty out buckets as soon as you are done with
your chores. When taking a break, put the bucket where your child cannot
reach it. Store empty buckets upside down.

.. Have toddlers wear life jackets, not floaties or water wings. Life jackets
should fit snugly. If you cannot pull the jacket up to the child's ears, his
or her nose will stay above water.

Don't sail with idiots who think wearing a life vest is a fashion faux pas.
Even though they own the fastest, flashiest boat they are reckless self
indulgent cretins who put child safety on the bottom of their list, next to
cleaning out the fish tank.

"If a child is missing, always check the pool first - there's no time to
spare," Hirtz said.

Even a near-drowning incident can have lifelong consequences. Kids who
survive near drowning may have brain damage; after four to six minutes under
water, the damage is usually irreversible.

It's far safer and easier to just lock the damn things in a padded room and
keep them there 'till they 're 21.

--
jlrogers±³©
"Bob Crantz" wrote in message
. ..
Keep your kids safe from drowning


Houston (May 25, 2006) - Memorial Day weekend signals the start of summer
vacations and, all too often, drownings. Texas Children's Hospital urges
all adults to keep a close eye on children around water.

"Each year some 20 children in Harris County drown. Already this year
there have been at least 10 drownings in the Houston area-and at least 3
other children who will have severe and permanent impairment," said Susan
Hirtz, manager of Texas Children's Center for Childhood Injury Prevention.
"Most happen quickly and quietly in residential swimming pools or open
water areas, like lakes."

The most important precaution is to actively supervise any child in or
near water. Give them your undivided attention - no talking, eating,
reading, taking care of another child or other distracting activities.

"In 10 seconds a child can slip underwater. In less than two minutes under
water, a child can lose consciousness. That's why, especially for
toddlers, they should never be out of reach when near a pool or body of
water," Hirtz cautioned.

Drowning is the No. 1 cause of death for children 1-3 years old and the
second leading cause of death for children ages 14 and under. To keep
children safe, Texas Children's Hospital and SAFE KIDS Greater Houston
recommends these precautions:

. Put as many layers of protection between your child and a backyard pool
as possible. Lock doors and windows leading to the pool. Add door alarms
or self-closing/self-latching devices for outside doors. Fences at least 6
feet tall around the outer edge of the property are required of homes with
pools in Houston. Pool fences, called isolation fences, should be at least
4 feet high and go all the way around the pool. Look for self-closing and
self-latching gates. Also, gate alarms and pool alarms can be installed to
alert you when someone is in or around the pool area. Keep rescue
equipment, a phone and emergency numbers by the pool.

. Enroll kids age 4 and older in swimming lessons taught by a certified
instructor - but don't assume swimming lessons make your child
"drown-proof."

. Learn infant and child CPR. Classes are offered by the Red Cross and
several EMS locations.

. Young children can drown in as little as 1 inch of water. Stay with your
child when he or she is in the bathtub, even if he or she is with an older
sibling. Keep toilet lids shut and use toilet locks if you have an infant
or toddler in the house. Also, empty out buckets as soon as you are done
with your chores. When taking a break, put the bucket where your child
cannot reach it. Store empty buckets upside down.

. Have toddlers wear life jackets, not floaties or water wings. Life
jackets should fit snugly. If you cannot pull the jacket up to the child's
ears, his or her nose will stay above water.

Don't sail with idiots who think wearing a life vest is a fashion faux
pas. Even though they own the fastest, flashiest boat they are reckless
self indulgent cretins who put child safety on the bottom of their list,
next to cleaning out the fish tank.

"If a child is missing, always check the pool first - there's no time to
spare," Hirtz said.

Even a near-drowning incident can have lifelong consequences. Kids who
survive near drowning may have brain damage; after four to six minutes
under water, the damage is usually irreversible.