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Clinical Reference Systems: Pediatric Advisor 10.0
Spanish version
Drowning, Prevention of
Follow these guidelines to protect your child from drowning:
- Never leave a child less than 3 years old unattended in a
bathtub or wading pool. Toddlers can drown in 2 inches
of water.
- Never leave a toddler unattended near a 5-gallon
industrial bucket with any water inside. If they peer
inside, they may fall in and drown because these large
buckets don't tip over easily.
- Never leave children who can't swim well unattended near a
swimming pool. More children drown in backyard swimming
pools than at beaches or public pools.
- Make sure that neighborhood pools are fenced off and
that the gates around them are kept locked.
- Try to arrange swimming lessons for your child before
age 8. (Children are often ready to learn to swim by the
age of 4 years.)
- Caution children of all ages to check the depth of the
water before they dive in and to avoid diving in the
shallow end of a pool.
- Caution children not to overbreathe (take repeated deep
breaths) before diving in as a way to stay underwater
longer. This practice can lead to passing out
underwater.
- Caution the accomplished swimmer to continue to swim with
a buddy.
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Written by B.D. Schmitt, M.D., author of "Your Child's Health," Bantam Books.
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Copyright 1999 Clinical Reference Systems
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