Summer is around the corner and that means kids will hit the swimming pools and the beaches more frequently. Tragically, drownings or near-drownings – so called submersion injuries – increase during the summer months in South Florida.
“For every one child that dies from a water-related drowning, another five come to the emergency room for near drownings,” said Fernando Mendoza, M.D. [1], medical director, Baptist Children’s Hospital Emergency Center [2]. “There are a lot of water accidents out there that don’t get reported. Safety is key to preventing a tragedy.”
Parents need to be extra cautious about water safety because these incidents happen when you least expect them, says Dr. Mendoza and water safety experts.
Some of the following safety tips are obvious, such as having adult supervision at all times and making sure your kids can swim. But reminders can help save lives, according to pediatricians. (Upcoming event: Water Safety Splash Day [3].)
Infographic by Irina de Souza