Water Safety Brought to you by CuddleBugs at Peace River Regional Medical Center

Splash safely this summer

There’s no better way to beat the summer heat than by splashing around in the water. Whether it’s a day at the beach or an afternoon by the pool, swimming and water activities are a great way for families to exercise and have fun together.

Since we’re approaching the hottest days of summer, CuddleBugs Peace River Regional Medical Center would like to share some tips for keeping young ones and others safe in and around water.

Safety in the pool

Whether it’s your own pool, a friend’s, or a pool at a hotel or community center — even with a lifeguard present — it’s important to supervise children at all times. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children ages 1-4 are at the greatest risk of drowning. To help keep kids safe, you should:

• Never leave a young child alone or under the supervision of another child in or around the water, even if the child being watched has had formal swimming lessons. Children should be supervised by a responsible adult who knows how to swim and deliver CPR.
• Stay within an arm's reach of a young child or inexperienced swimmer. Children who can’t swim or are poor swimmers should always wear a properly fitted life jacket — air- or foam-filled toys are not safety devices.
• Give children your full attention when you are supervising them. Don't fiddle with your phone, read or do anything to distract you from watching. Drowning can happen quickly and silently.
• Know how to swim yourself, and enroll your child in formal swimming lessons and water-safety training at a young age. The American Academy of Pediatrics supports swimming lessons in children as young as 1.
• Install a fence around the pool at your own home to prevent children from entering the pool area unattended. The fence should be at least 4 feet high with a locking gate that closes and latches by itself.

"It's important for parents to learn CPR in case of emergency," said Wen-Huai Liou, Pediatrician "The more quickly CPR is started, the better the outcome. You could save someone's life in the time it takes emergency services professionals to arrive. Check with your local hospital or community center to find out about classes in your area.”

Keeping the pool germ free

Even though chlorine can protect against germs found in pools that can cause illness, such as E. coli and Cryptosporidium, it doesn't work immediately. The health care team at Peace River Regional would like to offer a few tips to help you keep the water free of infection-causing organisms:

• Take your child on bathroom breaks or check diapers often. Don’t rely on your child telling you when he or she has to go — at that point, it may be too late.
• Change diapers in a bathroom or designated diaper-changing area to prevent germs from spreading in and around the pool.
• Wash your child thoroughly with soap and water before going into the pool to assure that tiny amounts of fecal matter don’t end up in the water.

A summer vacation isn’t complete without sunshine and fun in the water. By making safety a priority, you and your family can enjoy the best of summer.

About Peace River Regional Medical Center

Founded in 1962 by a group of local physicians, Peace River Regional Medical Center is a 254-bed Joint Commission Accredited full-service hospital located in Port Charlotte. Recognized locally as a leading healthcare provider, Peace River is offers a full-continuum of care to patients in Charlotte County.  In 2012, the state-of-the-art Peace River Heart Institute opened on the main hospital campus. Peace River Heart Institute is Charlotte County’s only full-service cardiac center, offering a full spectrum if interventional cardiac services, including open heart surgery.

About CuddleBugs

CuddleBugs is a free program designed to provide answers to new and expectant moms from the earliest stages of pregnancy through post-delivery – including guidance for newborn care. For more information about CuddleBugs, visit www.CuddleBugsBaby.com.

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Remember that this information is not intended to replace the advice of your doctor, but rather to increase awareness and help equip patients with information and facilitate conversations with your physician that will benefit your health.

True or False: Swim diapers and pants are leak proof.

False. Swim diapers and pants can give parents a false sense of security. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, research has shown that swim diapers and pants are not leak proof, although they might hold in some solids. If your child is ill with diarrhea, consider the health risk to others and keep him or her out of the pool.

Sources:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – www.cdc.gov

Safe Kids USA – www.safekids.org