Drowning is the main reason for dying in Arizona (AZ) in children below four years of age. (See Drowning Prevention Coalition of Arizona)
There is no solitary solution suggested to prevent drownings. What is recommended is a 3-step approach: “Block, Watch and Learn.”
Step One – Block.
Block accessibility to bodies of water. Keep bathroom doors shut so babies cannot drown in toilets. Block the pool with a barrier such as a fence or pool cover.
Step Two – Watch.
Nearly all common drownings occur in bathtubs, toilets, buckets, ponds, pools, and lakes.Continual supervision must be exercised near all the water.
Step Three: Learn.
Learn how to swim and get trained in CPR. All kids need to take swimming lessons in addition.
CPR Certification can make the difference between Life and Death to someone you love. Anyone that has a child should learn CPR and take refresher courses every two years.
When you take CPR Training you will learn how to administer CPR to Infants, Children, and adults as per the guidelines established by the American Heart Association.
Unfortunately, when a child drowns first responders such as Paramedics, Firefighters and EMT’s are the first to begin CPR. Lots of bystanders are afraid to administer CPR for fear of doing it incorrectly or hurting the person further. If your boy or girl drowns, every second counts. You can’t wait around for emergency personnel to show up to initiate CPR. Every minute that passes reduces the likelihood of survival. CPR is most successful when performed within the 1st 5 minutes after the patient stops breathing. How long will it take for paramedics to arrive? Five minutes? Ten minutes? If this is your child, can you afford to not know CPR?