Facts
According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 3,000 people unintentionally drown in the U.S. each year – about nine deaths a day – and that doesn't include boating accidents.

Drowning is the leading cause of accidental injury-related death among children ages 1 to 4.

Drowning is the second leading cause of accidental injury-related death among children ages 1 to 14.

Background
In 10 seconds a child can slip underwater. In less than two minutes under water a child can lose consciousness. 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.

How To Keep Your Child Safe

• If a child is missing, always check the pool first — there’s no time to spare.
• Put as many barriers 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.
• 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.
• Install gate alarms and pool alarms 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 one inch of water.
• Stay with your child when he is in the bathtub, even if he is with an older sibling.
• Keep toilet lids shut and use toilet locks if you have an infant or toddler in the house.
• 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. Test life jackets for a proper, snug fit – if you cannot pull the jacket up to the child’s ears, his nose will stay above water.

Stay Informed
SafeKids U.S.A. http://www.usa.safekids.org

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission http://www.cpsc.gov

For more health and safety advice consult your local children’s hospital. For a national listing go to www.childrenshospitals.net/hospitalprofiles

Safety information found on the Get on Board with Child Safety! Web site has been provided by the Get on Board with Child Safety! partner hospitals.

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