Video: Drowning 2nd highest cause of accidental child deaths

In a split second, the laughter, splashing and fun of swimming can turn tragic.

A swimming pool is fourteen times more likely than a motor vehicle to be involved in the death of a child under the age of four.

Children’s Hospital in Birmingham sees at least five drowning per year, and a minimum of fifteen near-drownings.

So what can you do to protect your children?  Gina Redmond got some answers in her Fact Finder report.

It’s a summertime rite of passage, a way to stay cool in the scorching heat.  But warm weather brings on drowning season.

In April 2009, 13-year-old Cameron Knowles drowned while swimming in the waters of the Cahaba River in Bibb County.

The seemingly calm waters hid a dangerous undertow which Cameron could not outswim.

Jim Brown, a friend of Cameron’s came to the scene.  He said, “We lost a young man.  That is a tragedy, a true tragedy.“
   
Dr. Marjorie Lee White an ER physician at Children’s Hospital said, “A drowning can occur in as much as several inches of water in a bathtub.  So take that to the pool setting where just for a turning a way making a cell phone call can put your child at risk.“

Dr. White said the summer season is often referred to as the drowning season, and it’s a dangerous time for children.

According to the National Safety Council, drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death among children ages one to fourteen.

Nationwide more than 1,000 children drown and 4,000 are hospitalized due to near-drowning every year.  The majority of those cases occur in residential swimming pools.

Susan Becker is the Aquatics Director at the YMCA in Shelby County’s Greystone community.  She said,  “I don’t think people understand how quickly it is that a small child can, within twenty seconds, can sink to the bottom of the pool.”
   
The window of opportunity to save a child, before brain damage or drowning occurs, is very small.  That’s why prevention is the key.

Allstate Insurance Company has these suggestions for pool owners.
- Make sure the pool is enclosed by a fence at least four feet high with a self-closing gate.
- Never leave a child alone or out of eye contact while he or she is near the pool.
- Always use approved personal flotation devices for younger children, even if you think they can swim.

Experts all agree the one way to ensure your child’s safety around a pool is to enroll them in a learn to swim or water safety course.

Tama Blackstone says paying for swimming lessons for her sons, ages six and three, was the best investment she ever made.  “I feel much safer.  I can’t even tell you how much safer I feel.  I feel like now if something were to happen and they were to fall in, they would be okay until I can get to them.“

It’s that need for safety which led the American Academy of Pediatrics to change its stance on swimming lessons.

For years the Academy warned against children under the age of four taking swimming lessons.

Pediatrician, Dr. Early Denson explained, “The thinking there is that kids don’t have the gross motor skills until they’re four years old and if they’re participating in swim lesson that might make parents less vigilant and there by indirectly increase the risk of drowning.“

But a recent study by the National Institutes of Health found that swimming lessons don’t cause more drownings.  In fact, the study says swimming lessons can provide some layer of protection.

Swimming lessons are usually inexpensive and organizations like the YMCA offer them for children as young as nine months of age.

Susan Becker said, “All kids need to learn how to swim and it’s not just the safety aspect of it any more.“

It’s also the confidence that comes with knowing how to swim.  But experts warn parents must still have a comprehensive water safety plan.

Dr. Denson said, “You still need to think about pool fences.  You still need to think about CPR training for parents and caregivers.“

With those safeguards in place, families and children will be able to enjoy countless hours of fun at the pool.