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KEEP YOUR CHILD SAFE IN WATER
Injuries have today become the leading cause of death among children in the industrialized world and they range from abuse to a variety of accidents and fires.
According to a report released by United Nations Children's Fund UNICEF, more than 20,000 children a year, under the age of 15, die from road accidents, abuse or other intentional injury, falls, fires, drowning, poisoning or other injury.
If this is the scene for the developed industrialized nations, the situation in countries like India would be much more depressing. Of course it is debatable whether any such data would be available for our country.
The UNICEF report released last week says that 12,000 of these deaths each year can be avoided through preventive measures. The likelihood of death from an injury is today much less than what it was about 30 years ago but the grief and pain associated with each death is beyond any measurement.
Fifteen percent of the total deaths were due to drowning which has turned out to be the second largest cause of accidental deaths in children below 15 years after transport accidents, which accounted for 41 percent of such deaths.
It should not be surprising to know that a child can drown even in an inch of water. A majority of the drownings occurs quickly and silently, especially when a child is left unattended. Seconds count in preventing death or brain damage. On drowning a child looses consciousness after two minutes and irreversible brain damage occurs after four to six minutes.
Children are at risk around any water body or container containing water. Babies and toddlers are more likely to drown in bathtubs, buckets, toilets and wading pools while older children are more at risk at open water sites like swimming pools, lakes and rivers.
A child can drown in as little a time as it takes to answer the doorbell or telephone. Survival depends on rescuing the child quickly and restarting the breathing process, even while the child is still in the water.
Children, if they are in the vicinity of water need constant and designated supervision.
Social gatherings at or near a pool are not uncommon these days. Such gatherings should have a "designated watcher" to protect young children from pool accidents. When adults become preoccupied, children are at risk.
If a child is missing, the pool should be checked first. Seconds count in preventing death or disability. The entire pool should be thoroughly scanned, bottom and surface, as well as the pool area.
A child should not be considered to be drown-proof because he or she has had swimming lessons. The knowledge of swimming should be supplemented by information about safety in water. Children should be under constant watch when they are in or around water.
There should be no toys or any other attraction that may pull a child in and around a water body. Toys are the best way to attract young children.
Flotation devices can never be a substitute for adult supervision.
It is in the best interest of all to learn CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).
Make sure that a telephone is available close by and emergency numbers are posted nearby.