Guest Post by Marie Breakiron.
Marie lives on the river and works in the Emergency Room at Sweeny Community Hospital

Posted Tuesday, March 28, 2006

When we hear the term “water safety” as it relates to children, we River lovers would most likely think first of the beautiful San Bernard River and the familiar Texas water safety boating law that mandates the use of life jackets for all children under the age of 13. Even though the Texas life jacket law has helped reduce the number of children’s boating related drownings, drowning still remains the second leading cause of unintentional injury death for children younger than 14 years (1000 per year)—Since 1984, 200 children have drown in 5-gallon buckets. When thinking of children’s water safety, we River lovers might never think of buckets or toilets.

Almost all children’s drownings and near-drownings occur when a young child is left alone near water for less than 5 minutes. Between 60% and 90% of drowning deaths among children 4 years and younger occur in residential pools, but children under 1 year most often drown in bathtubs, buckets, or toilets.

This Easter, my family and I will have 7 grandchildren (3 under the age of 4) hunting colored eggs in our yard adjacent to the River. In addition to the hazard of being very close to the River, we also have a small waterfall in our yard: A young child can drown in as little as 2 inches of water. Because there will be so many of “the little critters” running around our home this Easter, in addition to the children’s parents, we plan to assign additional family members to rotate as “designated child watchers” who will also be responsible for watching the children. Relying on listening alone (as we sometimes do when friends and family get together) is fatally flawed—Many people do not realize that young children tend not to splash and make noise when they get into trouble in the water and that therefore they drown soundlessly.

Plan now to have a water safe Easter on the River, in the yard, and in the home.

Drowning Prevention Safety Tips may be found on the ENA Web site in the EN CARE area:
http://www.ena.org/ipinstitute/fact/watersafety.pdf

References:
Lassman, J. (2002). Water Safety, Journal of Emergency Nursing, 28, 241-243.
Retrieved March 14, 2006 from http://www.jenonline.org/article/PIIS0099176702674641/fulltext

US Coast Guard Boating Safety State Boating Laws
Retrieved March 14, 2006 from http://www.uscgboating.org/regulations/boating_laws.htm 
 

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