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Get Into The Swim of Things — Safely Keep a constant watch on children to prevent drowning Quickly and quietly, hundreds of children in the United States will drown this year — often with adults just yards away. Drowning is one of the leading causes of fatal injury among children up to age 14, accounting for about 17 percent of all such deaths. (Motor vehicle accidents are the most common cause of death in this age group.) As Hawaii’s children’s hospital, Kapi`olani’s physicians are all too familiar with these statistics. “We see more than 20 near-drowning cases each year in the pediatric intensive care unit, and many more children are treated in our emergency room,” says Rupert Chang, M.D., pediatric intensivist physician at Kapi`olani. “A number of the children requiring intensive care will suffer significant brain injury resulting in lifelong disabilities. These children will usually require extensive assistance and support services at home.” Rupert Chang, M.D. Because not much can be done to reverse brain damage once it occurs, says Dr. Chang, Kapi`olani emphasizes injury prevention and rapid initiation of CPR when accidents do occur. “Many of these tragedies are preventable with proper precautions,” he says. Keeping children away from bodies of water through the use of barriers is an important method of accident prevention. However, enclosing pools with fences and self-closing gates cannot replace close adult supervision. Many parents think a child is safe in the water when an adult is nearby. But consider this: 88 percent of children who drowned in 2000 and 2001 were supervised by a parent, grandparent or baby-sitter, according to Safe Kids Worldwide. “Parents think just being nearby is sufficient to save their child,” says Safe Kids Worldwide Program Director Angela Mickalide, Ph.D. “Generally, parents misperceive drowning as a noisy event that takes a while. Actually, it happens suddenly and silently,” she cautions. “When children are trying to gasp for air, they can’t scream because they don’t have enough air in their lungs.” Dr. Mickalide says that very young children are at greatest risk of drowning in pools and bathtubs, while older children’s greatest risks are in open bodies of water, such as the ocean or rivers. “We promote active supervision,” says Dr. Mickalide. “Designate someone as a ‘water-watcher,’ whose sole responsibility is to watch the children in the water for a distinct period of time, not talk to friends or supervise other kids,” she says. Don’t be lulled into a sense of false security because your children can swim, Dr. Mickalide adds.“Your eyes should be constantly focused on your kids in the water.” “Ideally, the people supervising the children should be certified in CPR,” adds Dr. Chang. “Victims who receive effective CPR immediately after a near-drowning accident will have a better outcome than those with whom CPR was delayed.” More Water Safety Tips From Safe Kids Worldwide Install a four-sided fence around a pool. The gate should be self-closing and have a lock. Keep a phone nearby. Hold babies when they are in the water. Inflatable armbands are swimming aids, not flotation devices. They cannot be depended upon to keep infants safe. Clear the pool area of toys when you leave. Many young children who drown fall into a pool while reaching for a toy or ball. Enroll children between ages 4 and 8 in a swimming class with a certified instructor. Safe Kids Worldwide says 74 percent of children who drown don’t know how to swim. Never leave a child alone near water, even a bathtub. Children can drown in as little as 1 inch of water. Post CPR instructions and emergency phone numbers near a pool. Any adult supervising children near or in water should know how to swim. Ideally, they would be certified in CPR. Be within arm’s reach of toddlers and children who can’t swim so you can reach out and grab them if you need to. Lessons to Keep Your Kids Safe Oahu Swim Class Directory All Aquatics www.allaquatics.org 808-754-0268 Honolulu Leahi Swim School www.leahiswimschool.com 808-735-1666 Honolulu Swim Hawai’i www.swimhawaii.com 808-922-4192 Honolulu YWCA of Oahu www.ywcaoahu.org 808-538-7061, ext. 201 Honolulu, Kaneohe YMCA of Honolulu www.ymcahonolulu.org Central Branch (Atkinson Drive) 808-941-3344 Kaimuki–Waialae Branch 808-737-5544 Nuuanu Branch 808-536-3556 Mililani 808-625-1040 Kailua Branch 808-261-0808 Kapi`olani provides this list of community resources only as a convenience and service to parents. Kapi`olani neither endorses nor makes any representations regarding the service or quality of service offered by the listed entities.