News Child Drowning Incidents Increase in 2008: Physicians at Dell Children's Urge Parents to Keep Kids Safe Around Water

Austin, Texas - (June 11, 2008) - Alarming data from Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas shows a sharp increase in child drowning incidents entering the summer of 2008, as compared to 2007.

From May 1 to June 10, 2007, the pediatric emergency department treated only 3 children for near-drowning incidents. In the same period in 2008, Dell Children's has treated 13 patients. Sadly, two of these children died as a result. All 16 of the incidents occurred in swimming pools or hot tubs.

Last summer's cooler temperatures and rain played a role in explaining these numbers. However, Pat Crocker, D.O., Medical Director of the Emergency Department at Dell Children's, reminds parents that "close supervision is the absolute best prevention for drowning." According to Dr. Crocker, proper supervision around water is "touch supervision", meaning a parent is close enough to reach out to their child at all times. Parents should avoid distractions, like talking on cell phones or reading, and avoid using alcohol while supervising their children around water. "At parties," says Dr. Crocker, "hosts should assign parents to take turns watching the water - never assume that someone else is taking care of it."

Safe Kids Austin, a community coalition for child safety led by Dell Children's, suggests these tips for water safety this summer:

•A child should never be unsupervised in or near water, even shallow wading pools. Devices (such as bathtub seats or water wings) can not be relied upon to keep them afloat and alive. Remember, children can drown in as little as 1 inch of water - and it can happen in no time at all. Children should learn to swim. Enroll them in swimming lessons taught by qualified instructors when they are ready, usually after age 4. If you don't know how to swim, enroll with your kids!

•Adults and kids over age 13 should learn infant and child CPR.
•Know which of your child's friends and neighbors have pools. Make sure your child will be supervised by an adult while visiting.
•Install four-sided isolation fencing at least 5 feet high, equipped with self-closing and self-latching gates, around home swimming pools.
•Keep rescue equipment, a telephone and emergency numbers by the pool.
•Pool alarms and pool covers can offer an extra layer of protection. However, do not rely on them to keep your kids safe; they should be used in conjunction with fencing and constant supervision.

Teach safety:
Swimming lessons are an important step, but they do not make a child "drown-proof." Children need to learn other water safety lessons, including:
•Always wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal safety device around oceans, rivers, lakes or when participating in water sports.
•Always swim with a buddy. Swimming alone is very dangerous.
•Know how to use rescue equipment and where emergency phone numbers are located.