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Water Safety

Water Safety. For Parents & Caregivers Chris Siska. Introduction. Drowning is the #1 cause of unintentional injury / death for children under age 4. #2 cause under age 19 #3 cause overall

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Water Safety

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  1. Water Safety For Parents & Caregivers Chris Siska

  2. Introduction • Drowning is the #1 cause of unintentional injury/death for children under age 4. • #2 cause under age 19 • #3 cause overall • For every drowning there are 6-10 “nearly drown” injuries that result in permanent brain damage. • Spinal Injuries & paralysis are results of diving into shallow water. This incident occurs too frequently across all age groups.

  3. Who is at Risk? • Everyone is at risk near water, from children to adults. • Judgment of older children can be influenced by peer pressure • Adults due to alcohol • Older adults overestimating physical ability or ability to make rational decisions

  4. Course Objectives • Understanding your role • Identifying risk factors • Understanding importance of surveillance • Identifying distress & drowning behaviors • Identifying basic rescue equipment & how to use it • Care of victims & specific injuries • Describe techniques to reduce injury

  5. Chain of Survival • Citizen Responder: reacts & responds by voluntary choice • Aquatic Rescuer: Occupationally required to react & respond • Lifeguard: Required to react & respond as well as provide constant surveillance

  6. Risk Factors • Being under water can lead to suffocation/death • Shallow water can cause injury if you strike the bottom with head/neck • Bacteria • Wet surfaces • Difficulty recognizing victims under water • Cloudy water • Overexposure to the elements

  7. Key Points of Water Safety Prevention Surveillance Helping someone that is conscious in the water Helping someone that is unconscious in the water Personal Safety

  8. Prevention Strategies • Have multiple layers of protection. • Gates, fences, pool covers, alarms • Establish Rules • Feet first entry only • Children ask permission • No horseplay • Adults must be present

  9. Prevention Strategies • Life Jackets • If unable to swim or poor swimming ability • Safety Breaks • Get everyone out to rest for a short while • Monitor the environment • Environment –Lightning, air/water temp., • Body fluids – Contain contagious disease

  10. Prevention Strategies • Remove toys when pool not in use. • Kids may be tempted. • Have Safety equipment available • Flotation devices, First Aid kit. • Keep electricity away • Learn to swim

  11. Surveillance Strategies

  12. Surveillance Strategies • Refers to watching the water surface and the bottom. • Situations can arise quickly. • Distressed person can alert you. • Drowning person makes no noise.

  13. Surveillance Strategies • Assign a designated Child Watcher. • Adult responsible for watching the water. • Enforce Rules • Non-negotiable. They listen or don’t swim. • Practice “Touch Surveillance” • An adult should be within arms reach of inexperienced swimmers. • Watch for signs of Distress • If it looks suspicious, check it out!

  14. Surveillance Strategies • Look in the bottom of the pool first. • Have an Emergency Plan. • Call 911 and have a First Aid Kit. • Make sure you can see the bottom. • If you can see the bottom you cant find a missing person.

  15. Conscious Victims

  16. Conscious Victims • When possible, you should use equipment to help someone in need. You want to keep away from someone struggling because they could grab you and pull you in. • The purpose of equipment is to: • Provide for your safety • Extend Your reach • Improve the chance of successful rescue.

  17. Conscious Victims • Have a rescue tube or flotation device. • Provides superb flotation and can hold multiple people. • Reach out with something • Keeps you safer • Don’t injure the victim. • Throw something that floats. • Aim behind the person. • Don’t hit the victim

  18. Conscious Victims • Teach others to reach or throw. • Don’t go in the water • Go into the water with a flotation device. • Use your tools to keep yourself safe. • Keep Flotation between you and the person in distress. • They can get scared and grab at you.

  19. Conscious Victims • If a head or neck injury is suspected, keep the head and neck from moving. • A broken neck can cause death. • If a victim has a seizure, hold their head above water. • Wait for the seizure to end then assist the victim out of the water.

  20. Unconscious Victim

  21. Unconscious Victim • Assess the scene for safety. • Use flotation if entering the water. • Alert • Call 9-1-1 • Attend • Begin CPR or other care measures as needed.

  22. Personal Safety Habits

  23. Personal Safety Habits • Wear Sunscreen • Don’t drink the water • Know your limits • Stay hydrated • Learn to swim • Be responsible for you and other around you • Know what to do in an emergency • Wear a life vest

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