Drowning Prevention

Topics:

Swimming Pools & Spas

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning is the leading cause of death by unintentional injury in children between the ages of one and four. The Swimming Pool and Spa Program highlights the need for Iowans to practice good water safety, and offers a reminder that these deaths and injuries are preventable.

The Swimming Pool and Spa Program also encourages Iowans to remember water safety year round in pools, spas, indoor water parks, and aquatic facilities. Parents and caregivers can make swimming safer for children by:

Providing direct supervision by parents or caregivers for all young children and non-swimmers that you bring to the pool, even when lifeguards are provided. Keep children under the age of five within arm’s reach whenever in or around the water.
Providing fences with self-closing, self-latching around swimming pools and spas.
Learning to swim and teaching your children to swim. Formal swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning particularly among young children.
Learning adult and infant CPR.
Using lifejackets for non-swimmers to bridge momentary lapses in supervision
Avoiding alcohol use while swimming or supervising children.
Avoiding holding breath for extended periods or hyperventilating.

Parent & Guardian Supervision

The Swimming Pool and Spa Program recommends swimming with supervision in swimming pools, spas, or other areas specifically designated for swimming. Close supervision of young children and non-swimmers is essential whenever they are in or around the water. Whenever possible, swim in areas with lifeguard supervision as an added layer of protection. Remember these safety tips when swimming:

Never swim alone.
Parents and caregivers should supervise their children whenever they are in or around the water.
Children under the age of five should always remain within an arms reach of their parent or caregiver when they are in the water.
Never - even for a moment - leave small children alone or in the care of another young child while in swimming pools or spas.
If children are in childcare, ask about exposure to water and the ratio of adults to children.
Do not use air-filled swimming aids (such as inflatable arm bands) in place of life jackets. They can deflate and are not designed to keep swimmers safe.
Children who are weak swimmers or non-swimmers should wear a life jacket when they are in or around water.
Parents should know the depth of the water and any underwater hazards before allowing children to jump in. The first time you enter the water, jump feet first; don’t dive.
Parents should remember that inflatable pools and hot tubs can also be dangerous for children. Inflatable pools are easily accessible to children and should also have fences.
Certified CPR training is yet another precaution that parents and older children can take to help prevent drowning deaths.

Barriers & Fences

Never - even for a moment - leave small children alone or in the care of another young child while in swimming pools or spas.
If children are in child care, ask about exposure to water and the ratio of adults to children.
Do not use air-filled swimming aids (such as inflatable arm bands) in place of life jackets. They can deflate and are not designed to keep swimmers safe.
Children that are weak swimmers or non-swimmers should wear a life jacket when they are in or around water.
Parents should know the depth of the water and any underwater hazards before allowing children to jump in. The first time you enter the water, jump feet first; don’t dive.
Parents should remember that inflatable pools and hot tubs can also be dangerous for children. Inflatable pools are easily accessible to children and should also have fences.
Certified CPR training is yet another precaution that parents and older children can take to help prevent drowning deaths.

Guidance for Residential Pools

The Swimming Pool and Spa Program recommends the installation of barriers at residential pools or spas that meet the minimum standards in Iowa Administrative Code 641 Chapter 15 to prevent young children from gaining access to the pools or spas without their parent or caregivers supervision.

It is important that homeowners check with the city that they live in to see if there are local ordinances in place concerning pool and spa barrier requirements. If there are no requirements in place, the Swimming Pool ad Spa Program would recommend that homeowners use the Consumer Product Safety Commission Safety Barrier Guidelines for Residential Pools.

Learn to Swim

The Swimming Pool and Spa Program recommends that all children and adults learn to swim through formal swimming lessons. Lessons alone are not sufficient to prevent drowning incidents as even the most proficient swimmers can drown where other protections are not in place but they provide an opportunity to teach both children and adults essential skills and about water safety.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, formal swimming lessons may significantly reduce the risk of a drowning incident among children between the ages of one to four. Please note however that for these young children, formal swimming lessons do not replace the need for their direct (touch) supervision by a parent or caregiver whenever they are in and around the water. Enroll in formal swimming lessons to learn essential skills and water safety.

Learn CPR

The Swimming Pool and Spa Program recommends all parents and caregivers learn adult and infant CPR. Immediate resuscitation at the site of a submersion incident before the arrival of emergency medical services is associated with a significantly better outcome for children with submersion injury.

Remember that:

Initial resuscitative efforts for a drowning victim should include rescue breathing as well as chest compression when signs of circulation are absent.
“Hands-only”/ “Compression only” CPR is not appropriate for drowning victims.

Use Lifejackets

The Swimming Pool and Spa Program recommends the use of proper-fitting, Coast Guard-approved flotation devices (lifejackets) whenever a young child is in or near water and for all children who are in the water but have not yet learned to swim. While a lifejacket cannot substitute for proper supervision, a lifejacket can help bridge momentary lapses in supervision that inevitably can occur with even the most conscientious parents or caregivers.

Check the weight and size recommendations on the label, then have your child try it on to make sure it fits snugly. For children younger than five, choose a vest with a strap between the legs and head support. The collar will keep the child's head up and face out of the water.

When using lifejackets, remember:

Teach children how to put their life jackets on.
Make sure all straps are belted and in the right buckle.
Loose straps should be tucked securely.
Life jackets should fit snugly and not ride up the individual’s torso.
For children, put the jacket and then lift them up by the top of the jacket. The jacket should not ride up over the chin and ears. If it does, try the smaller size. If you can’t drop a size, due to a weight restriction, find a jacket that has a crotch strap.
Make sure life jackets are not torn or leaking.
Always dry life jackets before storing.

Avoid Alcohol

The Swimming Pool and Spa Program recommends avoiding alcohol whenever swimming or boating. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, alcohol use is involved in up to 70% of deaths associated with water recreation. Alcohol influences balance, coordination, and judgment and its effects are heightened by sun exposure, wind, wave action, sun glare, and heat. Alcohol also:

Depresses central nervous system processing and impairs balance and coordination.
Lowers inhibitions and judgment and can lead to risky behaviors.
Dilates blood vessels increasing the risk of hyperthermia.
Can contribute to fatigue or loss of consciousness.
Reduces attention span and the effective supervision of children in and around water.

Some people have drowned in shallow water when they lost their balance and were unable to stand up after consuming alcohol. Individuals may also take risks, such as diving into shallow water, which he or she may not normally take. Alcohol can also reduce swimming skills, even those of an excellent swimmer.

Avoid Prolonged Breath Holding

The Swimming Pool and Spa Program recommends avoiding prolonged underwater breath-holding. People who hold their breath while swimming or practicing breath-holding underwater in pools are at risk of “passing out” due to lack of oxygen. This phenomenon is commonly referred to as Shallow Water Blackout (SWB).

SWB is a medical term for a faint brought on by a lack of oxygen and carbon dioxide while swimming. SWB does not only occur in shallow water, it can happen in any depth of water.

Do not practice prolonged breath-holding or have contests to see who can hold their breath the longest underwater or swim further underwater.
Repetitive breath-holding and/or hyperventilation increases risk of SWB.
SWB is difficult to detect from above the water. Lifeguards, parents or caregivers likely would not notice shallow water blackout as it occurs.
Never swim alone.
For more information, please visit Shallow Water Blackout Prevention.