According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), “every day, about ten people die from unintentional drowning. Of these, two are children aged 14 or younger”. Additionally, the CDC reports that there were 3,443 fatal unintentional drownings in 2007. These tragedies occur most often as a result of lack of supervision or proper precautions – the installation and consistent use of a pool gate.
Swimming is supposed to be a fun, carefree, part of growing up in Southern Nevada. So what can parents do to make sure swimming remains a memorable childhood pastime? The CDC found that, “participation in formal swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by 88% among children ages 1 to 4 years old”. Their research suggests:
(2) supervision when in or around the water, and
(3) use of the buddy system.
Related Web Resources:
CDC Drowning Statistics