Saturday May 19, 2012
The CDC issued a new report on drowning this week, highlighting the fact that drowning remains "the leading cause of injury death among children aged 1-4 years."
Not surprisingly, there are many stories of drowning in this week's Saturday Safety Roundup, including:
- a 2-year-old boy in Russels Point, Ohio who drowned in an above-ground backyard pool while visiting his grandmother. He had wandered away for a minute and fell in the pool, which was flush with a deck.
- a 2-year-old in Lansing, Michigan who drowned in a backyard pond behind his family's home. His grandfather had fallen asleep and the toddler got out of the house, even though the doors were locked.
- an 11-year-old girl in Bolingbrook, Illinois who drowned in a pond after jumping from a footbridge with a group of kids, even though she couldn't swim. She drowned the second time that the kids jumped from the bridge.
- a 17-year-old boy in Wilmer, Alabama who drowned in Citronelle Lake while swimming with friends on Mother's Day. He had signaled for help, but his friends thought he was joking. By the time that they got to him, they couldn't find him.
- a 13-year-old in Louisville, Kentucky who drowned in a creek behind his neighborhood
- an 18-month-old in Yakima, Washington who drowned in an irrigation canal about 100 yards from a home he was visiting with his family. He had been missing for just a few minutes before the family started searching for him and called 911.
- a 4-year-old boy with autism in Westborough, Massachusetts who drowned in the murky water of an apartment swimming pool after wandering away from his home. The pool is surround by a 6-foot-tall chain link fence with a locked gate, but the boy was able to go under the fence.
- a 6-year-old in Merced, California who drowned in Dawn Lake after the raft he was riding on tipped over. He had apparently moved out of a shallow part of the lake when he drowned.
Little things can help prevent tragedies, like teaching your kids survival swimming skills, removing the ladder or steps whenever you get out of your above-ground pool, fencing in your pool, and making young children who can't swim well wear a coast guard approved life-jacket instead of floaties.
And unfortunately, there were other tragedies and accidents too, including:
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Thursday May 17, 2012
About 330,000 crib and play yard tents made by Tots in Mind, Inc. are being recalled because of strangulation and entrapment hazards.
There have been at least 27 reports of tent failures. These reports include the death of a two-year-old boy who became entrapped between his tent and play yard and a two-year old boy who sustained a catastrophic brain injury when his crib tent inverted and a broken rod trapped him at the neck.
Although first recalled in 2010, the company has since gone out of business, so the repair kit for the tents is no longer available. Five retailers are now offering a refund or store credit to consumers who bought a Tots in Mind Crib Tent or Play Yard Tent at:
If you have and especially if you still using one of these tents, be sure to stop using it as they are dangerous. The recall includes the Tots in Mind Portable Playard Tent, Original Cozy Crib Tent, Cozy Crib Tent II, Crib Tent for Convertible Cribs, and the Portable Playard Tent plus Cabana Kit.
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CPSC Tots in Mind Crib and Play Yard Tent Recalls
CPSC Tots in Mind Playard Tent Recall
Strangulation Hazards - Hidden Dangers
Moving to a Toddler Bed
Thursday May 17, 2012
Safe swimming isn't just about prevent drownings.
You also want to make sure your kids stay healthy while they are swimming and that they don't get other people sick. But how do people learn about healthy swimming?
A new report from the CDC, "Promotion of Healthy Swimming After a Statewide Outbreak of Cryptosporidiosis Associated with Recreational Water Venues - Utah, 2008-2009," discusses the impact of a multimedia healthy swimming campaign in the state, a campaign that helped residents of Utah do a better job than residents of other states answer questions like:
- Is it okay to swim if you have diarrhea?
- Does chlorine kill germs instantly?
- Is pool water quality the same as drinking water?
- Could an outbreak of cryptosporidiosis be prevented if all pools are well maintained?
In case you are wondering, the answer to all of those questions is 'no.'
Because chlorine does not kill germs instantly, you should not go swimming if you have diarrhea and you should not swallow water that you are swimming in. Other healthy swimming habits include washing your hands after using the bathroom or changing a diaper, showering or bathing with soap before getting in the pool, and taking young children on frequent bathroom breaks so that they don't go in the water.
The 2007 Cryptosporidium outbreak in Utah got at least 5,700 people sick. Unfortunately, it isn't the only outbreak we have seen in recent years. There were also large outbreaks in North Texas, Idaho, and Pennsylvania.
Many people overlook the fact that kids can get sick from the germs in the water of pools, lakes, and water parks. Taking some simple steps can help keep your kids -- and everyone else -- safe while swimming.
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Swimming - Staying Safe and Healthy
Cryptosporidium
Controlling Crypto Outbreaks
CDC - Six Steps for Healthy Swimming
Thursday May 17, 2012
We get frequent reminders about how common drowning is, so it likely isn't a surprise that a new report from the CDC that was released today, "Drowning - United States, 2005-2009," states that "drowning is a leading cause of unintentional injury death worldwide, and the highest rates are among children."
And although drowning death rates have been decreasing, drowning is still the "leading cause of injury death among children aged 1-4 years."
The study also found that:
- on average, 3,880 people drown each year in the United States
- on average, about 5,789 people are treated in the emergency room or nonfatal drowning incidents each year in the United States
- drowning and near-drowning rates are highest among children who are 4 years old and younger, where incidents most commonly occur in swimming pools and bathtubs
- as kids get older, they are more likely to drown in a swimming pool or natural body of water
Again, facts about drowning shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. Each week, especially this time of year, we report on multiple drownings in our Saturday Safety Roundup. That makes it important to seriously think about the interventions in the CDC report, which include:
- learning survival swimming skills and taking formal swimming lessons
- putting environmental protections in place, such as four-sided pool fencing to separate a backyard swimming pool from the house and making sure life guards are on duty at public pools and beaches
- not drinking alcohol while swimming, boating, or supervising kids in the water, etc.
- making sure all boaters and kids who can't swim well always wear a life-jacket
- learning CPR
Most importantly, be aware of drowning hazards in and around your home and supervise your kids around the water.
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Drowning in Portable Pools
Drownings and Near- Drowning Accidents
Drowning Prevention
Swim Lessons for Kids
