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Weekends on the Water; Call for Parental Precautions
Safe Pool Season Means Carefully Following Safety Tips
Information and news releases furnished by the members of PR Newswire, who are responsible for their
fact and content.
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WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., June 21, 1999 -- We all love swimming in
summer, but along with the sand, surf and pool come some dangers.
According
to the Centers for Disease Control, drowning is the second leading cause
of
unintentional injury-related deaths to children under 14, and a swimming
pool
is 14 times more likely than a motor vehicle to be involved in the death
of a
child under four.
"While these statistics are sobering, they don't
account
for other accidents that occur at the pool and beach, ranging from minor
cuts
on the bottoms of vulnerable bare feet to painful sunburns and submersion
injuries (near-drownings)," says Dr. Richard O'Brien, emergency medicine
specialist and medical advisor to the Lanabiotic(SM) "Waterproof Your
Child"
consumer awareness campaign.
As an active emergency room doctor at Moses Taylor Hospital in
Pennsylvania, Dr. O'Brien is all too familiar with the more minor
tragedies of
the warm weather swim season. Because of this, he recommends that
parents and
children take steps to "waterproof" themselves -- from head to toe.
"While
nothing ever takes the place of proper adult supervision when children
are in
or near the water, there are some precautions parents can take to avoid
minor
mishaps that can ruin a day's outing to the shore." Here is Dr. O'Brien's
advice:
-- When walking on a pool deck or shoreline, make sure that children
wear
tight-fitting rubber water shoes (you can pick up a pair for a
few dollars just about anywhere). These shoes will protect
children's
sensitive feet from splinters, glass shards, a coastline covered in
sharp, broken shells or hot sand burns, and they are easier to
walk in
than flip-flops.
Children, especially non-swimmers, should never rely on floats,
water
wings or other floatation devices to go into water that they cannot
stand in. This gives them a false sense of security, and it can
easily
turn into tragedy if the child falls off or is knocked off the
float
into the water, either shallow or deep.
Protect new or existing cuts, burns, scrapes, etc., with a
waterproof,
triple antibiotic ointment, such as Lanabiotic(R) First Aid and
Pain
Relief Ointment. This will keep germs/bacteria from the water
(especially in freshwater settings or stagnant water, like puddles)
from entering the wound, since most adhesive bandages can come off
when
wet. Plus, the ointment promotes proper healing, which will help
minimize infection and scarring.
Life jackets should be worn by people of all ages on all
watercraft,
even when it is anchored or at the dock. The wake of a passing
boat
can make the boat rock, causing loss of balance, which can lead to
someone falling in the water unexpectedly.
Children should always wear water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF
of at
least 15, as directed (fairer children will require a higher SPF)
on
all parts of their body, including the face, lips and earlobes.
While
this will eventually need to be reapplied, it will not wash off as
quickly, allowing for additional protection in the water.
Take advantage of accredited swimming classes in your area.
Children
should be familiar with basic swimming skills, so that they can get
themselves out of a dangerous situation. Non-swimming adults
should
also take classes in the event that they have to jump in to save
their
child. It is never too late to learn how to swim.
Take notice of lifeguards at the beach and pool. Swim close to
where
the guards are stationed, and don't swim when guards are not on
duty.
Take heed of signs/flags indicating treacherous swimming
conditions.
Purchase a pair of children's swim goggles. Not only will they
protect the eyes from chlorine and other irritants, but they also
allow the child to see underwater and give them their bearings.
Teach children how to wear them properly.
Have children swim with a buddy at all times.
Children with sensitive ears should wear earplugs to avoid
swimmer's
ear.
Water at the beach and pool isn't the only threat to children. If
you
are washing your car with a bucket filled with water, make sure to
monitor it and dump it when through. Small children may lean into
the
bucket, lose their balance and submerge their head, causing injury
or
death in even a few inches of water.
Remember that no form of water protection can replace the most
important one -- PARENTAL/ADULT SUPERVISION. Most drownings or
submersion injuries (brain damage) can occur in the amount of time
that
it takes an adult to run and answer the phone -- even in shallow
baby
pools. NEVER LEAVE ANY AGE CHILD UNATTENDED IN OR NEAR WATER!
For more information and tips on keeping safe all summer, parents and
kids
can visit http://www.lanakids.com, the new, colorful site designed
especially
for kids.
CONTACT: Alyson O'Mahoney of Robin Leedy & Associates, Inc., 914-241-0086
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