According to Children's Safety Zone, "Back-to-school distractions in August make it a high risk month for child drowning. Drowning is a top cause of injury-related death for children in Arizona, especially the one to five year old age group. Every child drowning is preventable – but sometimes, little can be done for a child once he or she has fallen into the water. Prevention is the cure, and awareness is free."
Important Dates
DROWNING IMPACT AWARENESS MONTH
8/1 - 8/7 World Breastfeeding Week
8/4 U.S. Coastguard Day
8/12 International Youth Day
Children's Eye Health and Safety Month
Pedestrian Safety Month
When we hear that someone has drowned we are sad. Usually, when we hear there was a near drowning we breath a sigh of relief. But, what we don't realize, drownings don't always lead to deaths, those who do survive often require long-term care.
It's time to go back to school but it still feels like summer, so continue to stay safe around water. This month's blog is focused on drowning impact awareness and portable flotation devices that could save your child's life if they fall into water. Awareness and prevention are key to avoiding this tragedy. Check out the eye health information and pedestrian safety tips as well!
August is Drowning Impact Awareness Month.
Why August? The month of August has the highest rate of drownings than any other month. Why? Summer is almost over. Some schools have started and others are about to. Families are a little more distracted trying to get everything ready to end summer and begin the school year. Last minute trips to the lake are crammed in and sometimes caution is thrown to the wind. Distractions subtly abound.
Drowning is a top cause of injury-related death for children in Arizona between the ages of 1 and 5. These deaths are preventable as are the thousands of emergency room visits that result from non-fatal drowning each year. These hospitalizations result in permanent disability. I have talked to so many nurses that work with children that have survived and have seen the devastating impact it has on the child and the families.
These are PREVENTABLE....
SUPERVISION is critical in pool and water safety, combined with water safe behaviors, knowledge, and equipment prevention goes even further toward drowning prevention.
Adopting and practicing as many water safety measures as possible give the greatest water safety assurance.
1. Stay Close….Be Alert….Watch Children IN and AROUND the pool
a. This goes for any body of water
b. Never leave children unattended
c. Teach children basic water safety tips
d. Keep children away from pool drains, pipes and other openings to avoid entrapment
e. Have a phone close by at all times when you or your family are using a pool, spa or at the lake (do not use it except for emergencies)
Child Missing? Check the pool, Spa or water first
f. Share safety instructions with family, friends and neighbors – do NOT be afraid to offend anyone
2. Learn and practice water safety skills....which means....know how to swim and practice CPR
a. Everyone in the family should know how to swim - including adults
b. Learn how to preform CPR on Adults and Children – update regularly
c. Understand the basics of life saving so that you can assist in a pool or water emergency
3. Have the appropriate equipment for your pool or spa
a. Compliant drain covers
b. Door Alarms
c. Fences and other barriers 4 - 5 feet in height with a self-closing/self-latching door
d. Ask your neighbors and community groups to do the same for all residential pools
e. Make sure Spa covers are maintained and locked
f. Have Life-saving equipment - life rings and/or reaching poles available for easy use
Drowning Impacts everyone….
The individual, the families, the community
As a Community we can help to stop this preventable tragedy
LET’S WORK TOGETHER
Puddle Jumpers
Puddle Jumpers are a great flotation device for beginning swimmers as the design allows children to lie on their bellies and practice arm strokes and kicks without the worry of sinking. However, this same design can also be very dangerous children under 30 lbs and not able to hold themselves up in the water. If a child is not able to control their body weight, they will end up on their back with their head being forced underwater by the flotation device. Please ALWAYS be sure all flotation devices are Coast Guard Approved. There are Puddle Jumper knock-offs and other flotation devices that are not Coast Guard Approved that you should be wary of. Always use the correct weight requirements and usage. This a very popular product, so we urge caution on the side of safety when purchasing or using it and any other flotation device.
Portable Flotation Devices
The following list explains the types of PFD’s and what they are recommended by the US Coast Guards to be used for and when they are required.
Type I PFDs – Off-shore life jackets: best devices for all waters, open ocean, rough seas or remote water where rescue may be slow in coming.
Type II PFDs – Near-shore buoyant vests: for general boating activities, calm inland waters or where there is a good chance for fast rescue.
Type III PFDs – Flotation aids: For general boating or specialized activity that is marked on the device (such as water skiing, canoeing, kayaking, hunting etc.).
Type IV PFDs – Throwable devices: designed to be thrown to persons in distress. Often includes boat seat cushions, ring buoys and horseshoe buoys.
Type V PFDs – Special use and condition devices: typically labeled with their limits of use. Commonly used for canoeing/kayaking, boardsailing, deck suits, work vests for commercial vessels and man over-board situations and law enforcement. Also included in this classification are hybrid inflatables. Hybrid inflatables are deflated devices and can be inflated on demand. These devices can have a buoyancy of between 22 and 34 lbs.
An important part of having and using a PFD is the fit. It should fit comfortably and snug. It is important to try it on before use. It should not ride up your body. To test whether the it has the correct buoyancy for your weight, when lying on your back in water and relaxing, the PFD should keep your chin well above water. If it does not, a device with higher buoyancy is needed.
1 in 4 children has a vision problem. 80% of information children receive in the classroom is presented visually. It can also affect sports performance, inferring with hand-eye coordination, depth perception, and eye tracking ability. Make sure your child has an eye exam every year and keep this in mind if they are struggling in school.
RECALLS:
July 20, 2023 CPSC;
Pottery Barn Kids recalled its Penny Convertible Cribs because the cribs’ end
panel can become loose exposing sharp edges, posing a laceration hazard to
children. Unit: About 310.
July 20, 2023 CPSC;
Soojimus recalled its CUPKIN Double-Walled Stainless Steel Children’s Cups
because they contain levels of lead that exceed the federal lead content ban,
posing a risk of adverse health effects to young children. Units: About
346,000.
July 20, 2023 CPSC;
Salewa USA recalled its Superlight Rocks because when exposed to seaside
conditions, corrosion can occur and weaken the cable chocks and they can break,
posing a fall hazard to climbers. Units: About 3, 550 (an additional ~225 in
Canada).
July 13, 2023 CPSC;
ECR International recalled its Gas-fired hot water residential boilers because
they could be missing the flue inspection cover plate, posing a risk of
exposure to combustion flue gases and a carbon monoxide poisoning hazard.
Units: About 1,747.
July 13, 2023 CPSC;
Electrolux Group recalled its Frigidaire Gas Laundry Centers because the felt
deal on the dryer drum can be folded inward, which can lead to lint
accumulation, creating a fire hazard. Units: About 13,600.
July 13, 2023 CPSC;
Yamaha Motor Powered Products recalled its Yamaha Personal Transportation
Vehicles because the vehicles can accelerate unexpectedly, posing crash and
injury hazards to consumers. Units: About 370.
July 6, 2023 CPSC;
Husqvarna recalled its Residential 300 Series Snow Blowers because they can
unexpectedly go into drive mode and collide with a consumer, posing an injury
hazard. Units: About 2,700 (an additional 4,400 in Canada).
July 6, 2023 CPSC;
VRURC Portable Chargers exclusively sold on Amazon.com have been recalled
because they can ignite, posing a fire hazard. Units: 190,000.
July 6, 2023 CPSC;
Yamaha Golf Car Company recalled its Model Year 2023 Yamaha Golf Car, Personal
Transportation Vehicles (PTV) and Umax because the accelerator spring can
become dislodged, allowing the accelerator pedal not to return to the resting
position, posing crash and injury or death hazards. Units: About 11,000 (an
additional ~2,200 in Canada).
July 6, 2023 CPSC;
woom Bikes USA recalled its woom ORIGINAL Bicycles because the stem and
handlebar on the bikes can detach and cause riders to lose control, posing a
fall hazard. Units: About 84,000 (an additional ~533 in Canada)
June 29, 2023 CPSC;
CaTeam recalled its Canvas Baby Hammock Swings because the inclined sleeper is
a banned hazardous product under the Safe Sleep for Babies Act, posing an
asphyxiation hazard. Units: About 700.
June 29, 2023 CPSC;
H-E-B recalled its Haven & Key Leather Woven Chairs because the backrest
and legs can crack and break off when a consumer is seated in the chair, posing
a fall hazard. Units: About 1,400.
June 29, 2023 CPSC;
Victrola recalled its Wood Metropolitan Bluetooth Record Players with 3-Speed
Turntables because they can overheat, posing a fire hazard. Units: About 5,700.
June 29, 2023 CPSC;
Bose recalled its Acoustimass, Lifestyle, and Companion bass modules (produced
before April 2006) because the speaker’s electrical components can fail, posing
a fire hazard. Units: About 884,000 (an additional 98,000 in Canada).
For More Information
Contact:
480-634-7366 www.azchildproofers.com
Childproofing, Pool Fences, Car Seat Safety, Community Education
480-634-7366 www.azchildproofers.com
Sources:
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