Water Safety

Advocacy Morning Report 5/24/2013 Tyson Jones and Ali McInturff

Drowning is a leading cause of accidental death in children

Parents should monitor their children when they are in any form of water

Drowning Epidemiology
500,000 drowning deaths worldwide per year In US, #2 cause of accidental death in children 4000 drowning deaths per year in US
75% of these are children Fatality rates highest in those <5 years of age

Drowning Epidemiology
Nearly 1 out of every 1000 boys in the US will die by drowning before reaching his 20th birthday
95% occur in in-ground pools
50% in the familys own pool Almost all the rest at a friends pool

Fatal Swimming Pool Drowning in childred <5 years-old

In 18 states, its the #1 cause of accidental death 70% supervised by parents Only 30% wearing swimsuits Most enter from home via unfenced side Most are silent

Drowning Epidemiology: Death is tip of the iceberg

For every drowning death
3.5 hospitalizations

For every hospitalization

4 ED evaluations

Pediatric IHC ED Submersions Jan.-July 2011 (48 Children <15 y/o)

reservoir bathtub canal

creek/river

pool

lake

54% pool pond 10% bathtub 36% rivers, lakes, canals and reservoirs

Safety in the Bathtub

Utah has a bathtub drowning fatality rate 300% higher than national average (child watching a younger sibling) Infants as young as 10 months can climb into a tub (Allasio et al, 2005) 10-year review of 21 bathtub drowning deaths (Lavelle et al, 1995) 67% had history or PE concerns suggesting abuse

Water Safety in the Bathroom

Keep doors to bathroom and laundry room closed especially in homes with toddlers Never leave a child alone in the bathtub Keep toilet lids shut and use toilet locks if you have small children

Open Water Safety

Open Water Safety Tips

Enroll childred in swimming lessons Teach and remind children how to tread water, float, and stay by the shore Teach children to never dive into oceans, lakes, or rivers Teach children to always swim with a buddy Know CPR and rescue techniques

Boating Safety

Boating Safety: Life Jackets

Coast Guard personal flotation device (PFD) for every person on the boat According to the Utah Boating Law:
12 years of age or younger must wear a Type I, II, III or V U.S. Coast Guard approved PFD when the boat is in operation Children do not have to wear PFDs when inside an enclosed cabin of boats 19+ feet in length

Boating Safety: General Guidelines

Children should wear correctly sized life jackets at all times when on boats or near bodies of water, with all straps belted Blow-up water wings, toys, rafts and air mattresses should never be used in place of a life jacket Adults should wear life jackets for their own protection and to set a good example Adolescents and adults should be aware of the dangers of boating when under the influence of alcohol, drugs, and Rx medications

Pool Safety

Pool, Spa and Hot Tub Safety Tips

Most common offenders: public wading pools, in-ground hot tubs, or pools that have flat drain grates and/or a single drain system. Accidents are most often caused by
Entrapment of hair or body part Drowning

Pool, Spa and Hot Tub Safety

GOAL: Prevent Drowning
Supervise children at all times around water Know where the pump power switch is so it can be turned off in an emergency Keep hot tub temperatures below 104 degrees F Monitor time children spend in hot tubs or spas
High temperatures can cause drowsiness or unconsciousness

Pregnant women and young children (under 16) should not use a hot tub or spa without consulting a physician

Pool Safety: General Guidelines

Never leave children alone in or near the pool, even for a moment Touch supervision
Use when infants/toddlers are in or around water By an adult (able to swim and perform CPR)

Keep fiberglass rescue equipment (shepherds hook and life preserver) and a portable telephone near the pool

Pool Safety: General Guidelines

Avoid inflatable swimming aids such as floaties Not a substitute for approved life vests Give children/parents a false sense of security Inflatable, above-ground pools May collapse if a child leans against the soft side Often exempt from local pool fencing requirements

If a child is missing, look in the pool or spa first

Share safety instructions with family, friends and neighbors

Pool Safety: Swimming Lessons

Children ages 1 to 4 may be at a lower risk of drowning if they have formal swimming instruction No evidence that swimming lessons or water survival skills courses prevent drowning in babies <1 year of age. Swim programs should never be seen as drown proofing and are never a substitute for adult supervision

Pool Safety: General Guidelines

Install a fence at least 4 feet high around all four sides of the pool Pool gate: opens out from the pool, selfcloses and self-latches at a height children cant reach Consider gate alarms and surface wave or underwater alarms If the house serves as the fourth side of a fence surrounding a pool, install an alarm on the exit door to the yard and the pool Install window guards on windows facing the pool Drowning victims have also used pet doors to gain access to pools

Pool, Spa and Hot Tub Safety

GOAL: Prevent Entrapment of Hair or Bodypart
Ensure that drain covers on spa or hot tub meet the standards of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Available at PoolSafety.gov Discuss the dangers of drain entanglement and entrapment Teach children never to play near drains or suction outlets Dont allow children to play hold your breath games in the spa or hot tub as long hair can be sucked into the drain

Sun Safety

Skin Cancer in Utah

Sunburns: A 2004 survey found that 49.9% of white adults in Utah had at least one sunburn in the past year. Sunburns are a signicant risk factor for the development of skin cancer. Melanoma: The rate of new melanoma diagnosesresponsible for 75% of all skin cancer deathswas 37% higher in Utah than the national average from 2001-2005 and was the 4th highest in the U.S. An estimated 500 state residents were diagnosed with melanoma in 2008. Summit County has the highest rate of melanoma diagnoses in the state, 124% above the national average.
Deaths from Melanoma: Nearly 60 people in Utah die of melanoma every year. Utah had the 4th highest melanoma death rate nationally from 2001-2005 25.9% higher than the U.S. average.

FUN IN THE SUN: Children <6 months

2 main recommendations from the AAP
Avoid all sun exposure Dress infants in lightweight long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and brimmed hats that shade the neck to prevent sunburn.

If clothing and shade are not available

parents can apply a minimal amount of sunscreen with at least 15 SPF (sun protection factor) to small areas, such as the infant's face and the back of the hands. If an infant gets sunburn, apply cool compresses to the affected area.

FUN IN THE SUN: Children >6 months

The first, and best, line of defense against UVR is covering up. Hat with a three-inch brim or a bill facing forward Sunglasses 97% -100% protection against both UVA and UVB rays Clothing with a tight weave Stay in the shade whenever possible Limit sun exposure during peak intensity hours - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Use a sunscreen with an SPF 15 or greater that protects against UVA and UVB rays, on both sunny and cloudy days
Apply enough sunscreen 1 oz per application for a young adult. Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours, and after swimming or sweating. Use extra caution near water and sand (and even snow!) as they reflect UV rays and may result in sunburn more quickly.

SunWise Program
Student self-reported datacollected as part of the U.S. EPAs SunWise Programshowed that teachers using the SunWise Tool Kit for 1-2 hours yearly can spur increases in students sun safety knowledge and attitudes and small to modest improvements in short-term sun safety behaviors. SunWise teaching between 1999 and 2015 could prevent more than 50 premature deaths and 11,000 future cases of skin cancer, saving the country more than $30 million in medical costs and productivity losses.

Thank you and enjoy your summer!

Questions?

References