You are here
Search
The global drowning report released today by the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 372,000 lives are lost each year to drowning. Safe Kids Worldwide has joined the worldwide effort to focus more attention on this global health epidemic.
New Research Reveals Persistent Misconceptions are Giving Families a False Sense of Security
Just Because Children Can Swim in a Pool Doesn’t Mean They’re Safe in Lakes, Rivers and Oceans
Washington, D.C. (May 22, 2018) – As summer swimming season kicks off this Memorial Day weekend, Safe Kids Worldwide and Nationwide’s Make Safe Happen program are releasing a new report highlighting the danger of childhood drowning, with a specific focus on incidents that occur in lakes, rivers, oceans and other types of open water.
Key findings of the research include:
Everything you need to know about a misleading term that takes the focus off real water dangers.
You may have seen postings on social media about “dry drowning,” stories about kids who seemed perfectly fine after getting out of a pool, ocean or lake and then, suddenly, as much as a day later, end up with breathing difficulties and die.
It’s terrifying – but the fact is that this kind of sudden “dry drowning” with no prior symptoms just doesn’t occur.
“You should probably sit out for a few practices, just in case,” my trainer said the day after I was struck in the head by a field hockey ball. An opponent’s powerful shot on goal had struck the side of my head, leaving me dazed for several minutes. I wasn’t showing any symptoms of a concussion the day after, but extra precaution was always in my trainer’s mind. Hits to the head were not an unusual occurrence. Throughout each season, at least one teammate had to sit out because of a possible concussion.
Boating Safety Sidekicks - Activities and information produced by the National Safe Boating Council to entertain and educate children on boat safety importance and ways to boat safely.
Collection of Safe Kids Worldwide Public Policy Position Statements and Letters, Testimony, and Advocacy Reports.
Home Safety curriculum, lesson plans, and activities for the classroom.
Safe Kids is committed to keeping you informed about recalls of products that can put kids at risk. The Safe Kids’ recall center is a unique place where parents and caregivers can go to stay up to date on recalls of all child-related products. This recall report includes infant rattles, children’s rompers and teethers that were recalled for posing a choking hazard.
Water, summer and kids having fun are synonymous. That was true for me when I was young, whether it involved a swimming pool, the ocean or even a big scoop of water ice in my native Philadelphia.
We work at Safe Kids to be parents’ partners so that the job of parent can be the joy we all envision, and less of the stress that it can be at times. We hope the diligence parents need to exercise around water will lower your stress level. Too much of a good thing can be perilous and the difference between fun and tragedy can happen in the snap of fingers or just a few inches of water.