How do you think it sounds when someone is drowning? That drowning victims make a lot of noise is only one of the false-assumptions around water safety, which keep drowning tragedies too often at the top of the daily news.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – in the United States, 300 children die each year and about 3,000 children are taken to emergency rooms from drowning.
Arizona is fourth in the nation for incidence of childhood drowning, notes Pool Safely.
Can you debunk some of these common myths about drowning? True or False?
- Arm floaties are a good way to keep a child safe.
False: Arm floaties should never be used. They slip off, puncture and give a child a false sense of security. - By age 3 a child is finally ready to start their swim lessons.
False: EARLY swim lessons save lives! A child can begin swim lessons with their parent before they learn to walk and become dangerously mobile. - Children drown more often than adults.
False: Adults drown 70 percent of the time and children drown 30 percent of the time according to Children Safety Zone. - African American individuals drown more often than other races.
True: Among children ages 5-14, African American children drown almost three-times the number of white children, according to the CDC. - Men are often stronger than women yet they drown more often than women.
True: Nearly 80 percent of individuals who drown are men.
The weather is hot and pools are a wonderful place to cool off but they are also dangerous. If you would like more information about swim lessons please call the experts at SWIMkids USA at (480) 820-9109.
