Newark, N.J. — With the Fourth of July just weeks away and thousands of swimmers flocking to the Jersey Shore and to local pools, families should be mindful of the danger of drowning for children of all ages. Drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death for persons aged 5 to 44, according to the United States Lifesaving Association (USLA).
“For children in the one to two year age range, drowning is the leading cause of injury death,” says Timothy S. Yeh, MD, FAAP, FCCM, Chairman of Pediatrics and Physician-in-Chief, at the Children’s Hospital of New Jersey at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. “For every ten children who die by drowning, 140 are treated in emergency rooms, and 36 are admitted for further treatment, and may suffer long-term disability.”
Children’s Hospital of New Jersey at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and the USLA offer the following swimming safety tips for children and families.
• Swim Near A Lifeguard: The chance of drowning at a beach without lifeguard protection is almost five times as great as drowning at a beach with lifeguards.
Learn To Swim: Learning to swim is the best defense against drowning. Teach children to swim at an early age. Children who are not taught tend to avoid swim instruction as they age, probably due to embarrassment.
• Never Swim Alone: Many drownings involve single swimmers. When you swim with a buddy, if one of you has a problem, the other may be able to help, including signaling for assistance from others.
• Don't Fight the Current: 80 percent of rescues by lifeguards at ocean beaches are caused by rip currents. Swimmers in a riptide should follow these measures:
• Stay calm, tread water or float- call or wave for assistance
• Don't swim against the current
• Swim parallel to shore when in the rip current
• Once out of the current, swim directly to shore
• Leash Your Board: Surfboards and bodyboards should be used only with a leash. Leashes are usually attached to the board and the ankle or wrist. With a leash, the user will not become separated from the floatation device.
• Don't Float When You Can't Swim: Non-swimmers often use floatation devices, like inflatable rafts, to go offshore. If they fall off, they can quickly drown. No one should use a floatation device unless they are able to swim.
• Life Jackets = Boating Safety: Some 80 percent of fatalities associated with boating accidents are from drowning. Most involve people who never expected to end up in the water, but fell overboard or ended up in the water when the boat sank. Children are particularly susceptible to this problem.
• Don't Dive Headfirst, Protect Your Neck: Serious, lifelong injuries, including paraplegia, occur every year due to diving headfirst into unknown water and striking the bottom. Check for depth before diving, then go in feet first the first time.
• At Home, You're the Lifeguard: Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death in many states for children age one and two. Many of these deaths occur in the few moments it takes a parent to answer a telephone or doorbell. NEVER leave a child alone anywhere near a pool. Make sure it is completely fenced and that there is no access from the home to the pool.
A daily rip current outlook is included in the Surf Zone Forecast, which is issued by many National Weather Service offices.
About Children's Hospital
Children's Hospital is the state's premier hospital caring for children, with specialized services to treat ill and injured children from newborn to adolescent years as well as preventive programs that promote wellness in the community. Children's Hospital of New Jersey is an affiliate of the Saint Barnabas Health Care System, the largest integrated health care delivery system in the state.
As a hospital devoted only to children, Children's Hospital of New Jersey recognizes that the special needs of children and their families extend far beyond clinical interventions. The facility provides an atmosphere of caring and warmth that complements the extraordinary medical care that is delivered by medical and surgical specialists who are all dedicated exclusively to children's health. The hospital's comprehensive inpatient and outpatient pediatric services include a licensed cardiac surgery program, state-designated regional perinatal center, the state’s largest pediatric intensive care unit, pediatric emergency department, Neonatal Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)/Apnea Center, Valerie Fund Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, neonatal ICU with New Jersey's only ECMO unit, HIV/AIDS treatment for children as well as a sexual and child abuse program.
For a referral to a pediatrician or pediatric specialist,
please call 1-888-SBHS-123.
DATE: June, 2007
CONTACT: Beth Salamon, Public Relations (973) 322-4926
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