LIVEWELL MINUTE: Water Safety

When the weather turns warm, everyone wants to be in or around the water. For people between the ages of 5 and 25, drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death.

Brandi Thompson, Community Outreach Educator at Blank Children s Hospital tells us that drowning is quick and deadly, and that 400 children, ages 14 and younger, drown each year, with over half of them being ages 4 and younger.

Most water-related accidents can be avoided by knowing how to stay safe and following a few simple guidelines:

• Buddy Up Always swim with a partner, whether you re swimming in a backyard pool or a lake.
• Get Skilled A number of organizations offer classes for both beginning and experienced swimmers and boaters.
• Swim in Safe Areas Only It s a good idea to swim in areas that are supervised by a lifeguard.
• Be Careful About Diving Teens are more likely than any other age group to suffer diving injuries, many of which can result in permanent spinal cord damage or death. Only dive in areas that are known to be safe for diving.

Thompson also states the most important tip to parents is to always supervise your children whether it be a full-sized swimming pool or not accidents can happen quickly.