Water safety

With summer in full swing, I am sure everyone spends a fair amount of time in one pool or another and possibly also a lake or ocean. Along with all the fun swimming and playing in the water brings, as a parent there is also always the thought of danger in the back of our minds. Below is a blog post on the signs of drowning and the Instinctive Drowning Response. Much of what I read below, I didn't know. It's a serious post, naturally, but I felt it was worth sharing with all of you in case there were things you didn't know as well.

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This post can be found on Mario Vittone's blog about maritime and water safety.

Drowning Doesn’t Look Like Drowning

The new captain jumped from the cockpit, fully dressed, and sprinted through the water. A former lifeguard, he kept his eyes on his victim as he headed straight for the owners who were swimming between their anchored sportfisher and the beach. “I think he thinks you’re drowning,” the husband said to his wife. They had been splashing each other and she had screamed but now they were just standing, neck-deep on the sand bar. “We’re fine, what is he doing?” she asked, a little annoyed. “We’re fine!” the husband yelled, waving him off, but his captain kept swimming hard. "Move!” he barked as he sprinted between the stunned owners. Directly behind them, not ten feet away, their nine-year-old daughter was drowning. Safely above the surface in the arms of the captain, she burst into tears, “Daddy!”

How did this captain know – from fifty feet away – what the father couldn’t recognize from just ten? Drowning is not the violent, splashing, call for help that most people expect. The captain was trained to recognize drowning by experts and years of experience. The father, on the other hand, had learned what drowning looks like by watching television. If you spend time on or near the water (hint: that’s all of us) then you should make sure that you and your crew knows what to look for whenever people enter the water. Until she cried a tearful, “Daddy,” she hadn’t made a sound. As a former Coast Guard rescue swimmer, I wasn’t surprised at all by this story. Drowning is almost always a deceptively quiet event. The waving, splashing, and yelling that dramatic conditioning (television) prepares us to look for, is rarely seen in real life. The

Instinctive Drowning Response – so named by Francesco A. Pia, Ph.D., is what people do to avoid actual or perceived suffocation in the water. And it does not look like most people expect. There is very little splashing, no waving, and no yelling or calls for help of any kind. To get an idea of just how quiet and undramatic from the surface drowning can be, consider this: It is the number two cause of accidental death in children, age 15 and under (just behind vehicle accidents) – of the approximately 750 children who will drown next year, about 375 of them will do so within 25 yards of a parent or other adult. In ten percent of those drownings, the adult will actually watch them do it, having no idea it is happening (source: CDC). Drowning does not look like drowning – Dr. Pia, in an article in the Coast Guard’s On Scene Magazine, described the instinctive drowning response like this:

1. Except in rare circumstances, drowning people are physiologically unable to call out for help. The respiratory system was designed for breathing. Speech is the secondary or overlaid function. Breathing must be fulfilled, before speech occurs.
2. Drowning people’s mouths alternately sink below and reappear above the surface of the water. The mouths of drowning people are not above the surface of the water long enough for them to exhale, inhale, and call out for help. When the drowning people’s mouths are above the surface, they exhale and inhale quickly as their mouths start to sink below the surface of the water.
3. Drowning people cannot wave for help. Nature instinctively forces them to extend their arms laterally and press down on the water’s surface. Pressing down on the surface of the water, permits drowning people to leverage their bodies so they can lift their mouths out of the water to breathe.
4. Throughout the Instinctive Drowning Response, drowning people cannot voluntarily control their arm movements. Physiologically, drowning people who are struggling on the surface of the water cannot stop drowning and perform voluntary movements such as waving for help, moving toward a rescuer, or reaching out for a piece of rescue equipment.
5. From beginning to end of the Instinctive Drowning Response people’s bodies remain upright in the water, with no evidence of a supporting kick. Unless rescued by a trained lifeguard, these drowning people can only struggle on the surface of the water from 20 to 60 seconds before submersion occurs.

(Source: On Scene Magazine: Fall 2006 (page 14))

This doesn’t mean that a person that is yelling for help and thrashing isn’t in real trouble – they are experiencing aquatic distress. Not always present before the instinctive drowning response, aquatic distress doesn’t last long – but unlike true drowning, these victims can still assist in their own rescue. They can grab lifelines, throw rings, etc.

Look for these other signs of drowning when persons are in the water:

• Head low in the water, mouth at water level
• Head tilted back with mouth open
• Eyes glassy and empty, unable to focus
• Eyes closed
• Hair over forehead or eyes
• Not using legs – Vertical
• Hyperventilating or gasping
• Trying to swim in a particular direction but not making headway
• Trying to roll over on the back
• Ladder climb, rarely out of the water.
  

So if a crew member falls overboard and everything looks OK – don’t be too sure. Sometimes the most common indication that someone is drowning is that they don’t look like they’re drowning. They may just look like they are treading water and looking up at the deck. One way to be sure? Ask them, “Are you alright?” If they can answer at all – they probably are. If they return a blank stare, you may have less than 30 seconds to get to them.

And parents – children playing in the water make noise. When they get quiet, you get to them and find out why.

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More on pool safety

Adding to our post yesterday on managing young twins at the pool, here is an expert interview that we found on the Multiples and More blog. This is more on pool safety overall and we felt it was worth sharing with all of our moms.

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Dr. Julie Gilchrist a medical epidemiologist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Injury Center’s Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention answered the following questions from the Multiples and More moderators.


What are some common mistakes parents make when it comes to pool safety?

Parents may mistakenly believe that supervision is enough to keep their young children out of a pool when they are not expected to be there. Parents may underestimate the mobility of their children. Barriers, such as four-sided pool fencing, can help prevent children from gaining unintended access to the pool area from the house without the caregivers’ awareness. Most young children who drowned in residential pools had been out of sight less than five minutes and were in the care of one or both parents at the time.

Also, parents may think that they will hear if a child is having trouble in the water. But children most commonly drown quickly and quietly. Many drown in the midst of a pool party with many people around. If you are hosting a gathering where children may have access to the pool, designate one adult to have eyes on the pool activities at all times. Rotating the responsibility will ensure everyone can enjoy the other activities. Just make sure everyone knows who is the ‘water watcher’ – don’t assume!


I've heard of pool alarms (where it alerts parents that someone is in the pool), do you feel these are effective to preventing accidents?

The most effective means to reduce drowning in residential pools is to prevent access to the water by installing four-sided fences with self-closing, self-latching gates. If the house forms a side of the barrier, using a power safety cover over the pool will also prevent access to the water. Pool alarms which alert the home owner when someone enters the pool can be an additional layer of protection but is not a substitute for physical barriers such as fencing and weight-bearing safety covers. The Consumer Product Safety Commission evaluated some pool alarms and their report is available at: http://www.cpsc.gov/LIBRARY/alarm.pdf.


At what age would you recommend a child to take swim lessons?

The American Academy of Pediatrics and CDC both believe that all children should learn to be safe in and around the water. Swimming is more than just a recreational activity (although it is an exceptional form of exercise); it is a valuable, potentially lifesaving skill. Recent studies suggest that formal swimming lessons may be beneficial even among preschool aged children. We suggest that parents consider the child’s potential exposure to water (i.e., whether they ever have access to pools, ponds, or other water hazards) and developmental readiness for lessons in consultation with their pediatrician to determine the appropriate time to start lessons. However, even with swim lessons, we caution parents to resist any false sense of security. No child is drown proof. Every child regardless of swim training should be appropriately protected from unintended access to the water with four-sided isolation pool fencing and additional adjunctive barriers as appropriate (door locks/alarms, pool alarms or weight bearing pool covers).
Additionally, when in the water, all children should be appropriately supervised at all times regardless of their participation in swimming classes.


Besides fences and swim lessons, what other tips do you have to keep the pool safe?

I encourage parents and caregivers to learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). In the time it might take for paramedics to arrive, your CPR skills could make a difference in someone's life.
What tips do you have for pool safety at a community pool, or a friend/family home?
In any venue, even if there is a lifeguard, children should be supervised by a parent or caregiver. In crowded pools, lifeguards often don’t see a child in trouble until another patron alerts them. Parents should carefully watch their children at any aquatic venue they visit.

Additionally, parents should be aware of some preventable health risks associated with aquatic activities.

1. Recreational water illness - ingesting contaminated pool water from ill children or young children not yet toilet trained; prevention includes appropriate chemicals to treat and behavior to prevent contamination.
2. Water intoxication - ingestion of large amounts of water by very young children can dilute the blood and lead to seizures; do not forcibly dunk children and watch for excessive swallowing of water.
3. Hypothermia – reduction of body temperature in cool water; very young children may not be able to maintain their body temperature in water below 90 degrees. Body heat dissipates 30 times faster in water than air and small children have a large body surface area relative to their mass and are affected more quickly.
4. Psychological stress from negative experiences in or around the water; these can lead to a life-long fear or avoidance of the water.

Managing young twins at the pool

The pools are opening for the season - summer is here! With that, comes some concerns about safety and managing young children around water, especially twins. Below is advice given to a club mom by other CMOTC moms on managing young twins and an older child at the pool.

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Question from CMOTC mom:

I have 18 month old twins. Summer is coming and I would really like to be able to take them swimming during the day. We have a pool available to us that is at 0 depth which is great. However, with my 6 year old swimming around also, my head would need another set of eyes for sure. I am just worried a lot about swimming with my new walkers near water. Well truthfully many places scare me with my new walkers but especially water! Anyway, I am thinking of doing swim vests? Pricey?? Worth it?? Other suggestions?? So is this possible to do alone?? Has anyone given this a go??

Advice from CMOTC moms:

This will be my first year swimming with my 18 month twins and 2 1/2 year old! I purchased two baby boats. The vests help when they are learning to swim but don't fully support them enough to keep them floating. One boat I found @ Once Upon A Child for $10. The other I
found on craigslist for $5. Just make sure they are wide around so they won't tip over. Good luck!

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We used Spring Floats with ours a lot. They really seemed to like them. Here is what they look like: http://www.amazon.com/Baby-Spring-Float-Canopy-Swimways/dp/B000C9DYPM
I know you can find them around cheaper than this though. I think I found them at Kohl's, Target and Meijer. They work well because they get most of their bodies in the water and there is also a canopy (which can be removed) to keep some direct sun off of them. They are easy for you to maneuver too :)

Good luck! I was scared to take mine near water by myself too once they
were walking but this helped!

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We bought swim vest's at Costco, they were coast guard approved and kept them floating just in case. The vest's are for jetski's, or at least that's how they were marketed on the packaging. We then bought them the next size up, this year they will be four and we have signed them up for swim class. Before that it's best to get them use to the water, try to show them some of the basics, splashing their face so they won't be afraid, and yes sometimes letting them (when supervised) swim without it so they realize they are not super baby compared to the water. Also consider getting a mother's helper too, someone young will have fun playing with your 6 year old.

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I don't have any major revelations to share with you but I do want to let you know I did this a few times last summer with my four boys so it is manageable. Last year my boys were 6, 3, and the twins were 20 months. We get a membership to Mingo pool in Delaware (where we live) so I never felt like I had to go and stay all day to make it worth our money. When we'd leave the house, I'd tell my 6 and 3 yr old that we were probably going to only stay for 2 rest periods (~1.5 hrs) and that my older son was not allowed to swim in the deeper pools. Mingo Pool has a 0 depth pool too but it joins into three other swim areas the deepest being ~ 4ft. He was allowed in that part b/c he knows how to swim enough to get around and I felt comfortable that I was able to keep an eye on him. Then they have a separate lap pool and a separate diving well. If one of his friends were there, I would let him go in the lap pool if they stayed together. My 3 year old was pretty good about sticking close to me or within the areas I could see him and where he could reach the bottom. He seemed to know his swimming limitations better than the twins. So, I just stuck around with the twins. We brought a few toys to sit and play with in a shallow area.

They loved using paint brushes (the big ones you use to paint walls with) to "brush" the sidewalk with water and I'd throw one or two of those squishy water balls around the pool for them to get and bring back. Mingo also has a little water slide in the shallow pool (~1 - 2ft water) and
fountains along the pool entry so they kept busy with those as well.

I will admit I was usually ready to nap along with them when we got home but we all love the pool so I didn't want to just sit at home every summer day wishing we were there. We had a "blow-up" rectangular pool set up in our backyard too so if they wanted to swim more or I didn't have the energy to take them to Mingo, they could just play in there. We did also skip the day trip and go in the evenings quite a bit when my husband could come along and help supervise. There were also certain days or hours that daycare centers or summer camps were there and I tried to avoid those times. It was much easier to keep everyone in check without the extra crowds.

Regarding the vests, I believe our pool has a restriction against flotation devices which is why I didn't use them. If I could have, I probably would have invested in them just so I would feel a little less stressed if one of them wandered into the deeper water. Hope this helps and feel free to let me know if you have any other questions.

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What worked for me was a one piece suite that had a floatation ring around the middle. When they jumped in the ring would move to under the armpits as the material was stretch fabric. It kept the kids afloat if they wandered or jumped in the deep end. My twins had no fear of water. We used them probably for 3 years so for us it was a wise investment. It was really worth the money to keep sanity. My kids were slow growers so they lasted a long time. I find the life vests were too bulky for the kids to move around much. While what we used was not approved for boating it did keep them floating and got them swimming.

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The only recommendations I have is that for the twins to get the life jackets with "pillows" on the back of the neck because it is said that young children will give up as far as holding their heads up, and the "pillows" will do that for them if they get in a serious situation. I learned this from my sister who does fund-raisers for parents trying to get the word out on how on water safety (after their son died). But, also, don't get the kind with removable internal pads. They come out too easily.

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Any other advice on swim gear and managing kids at the pool? Please share!