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Safety in our Community
Water Safety
Drowning is a quick and silent
killer. In the time it takes to….…
…cross the room for a towel (10 seconds), a child in the bathtub can become
submerged.
…answer the phone (2 minutes), that child can lose consciousness.
…sign for a package at your front door (4 to 6 minutes), a child submerged in
the bathtub or pool can sustain permanent brain damage.
Drowning is still the
second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death to children ages 1 to
14,
taking more than 900 children’s lives each year.
For every child who drowns,
four more are hospitalized for near-drowning; for every hospital admission,
approximately four children are treated in hospital emergency rooms.
Fifteen percent of all
2,351 unintentional drowning deaths of toddlers ages 1-4 in the United States
between 1999 and 2004 were Florida residents, more than any other state (CDC)
Knowledge is a
powerful tool for combating these tragedies. Knowing how and where children
drown, as well as the concrete steps you can take to avoid danger, may make a
life-and-death difference for your family.
Safe Kids Florida is a member of Safe Kids Worldwide, a global network of
organizations dedicated to preventing accidental injury. They advise parents and
care givers to take precautions when supervising children. Following the tips
below can help them in properly supervising children.
• Never leave children alone near water.
• Tell children never to run, push, or jump on others near water.
• Learn infant and child CPR.
• Children should always wear U.S. Coast Guard approved life jackets.
• Inflatable inner tubes and “water wings” are not safety devices.
• Keep toilet lids down.
• Keep doors to bathrooms and laundry rooms closed.
• Children in baby baths seats and rings must be within arm’s reach every
second.
• Teach children to swim after age 4.
• Make sure children swim within designated swimming areas of rivers, lakes and
oceans.
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Citrus County Web Page
Bay News 9
Citrus County Mosquito Control
Seven Rivers Regional
Citrus Memorial Hospital
Hospice
