As the mercury zooms upward, children left unattended around water or in a hot car are prime candidates for catastrophe. The key to a safer summer starts with simply paying attention, say physicians at Texas Children’s Hospital.
"Drowning can occur any time, but summer is prime time for accidents in or near water," said Dr. Joan Shook, chief of the emergency medicine service at Texas Children’s Hospital and associate professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine. "We recommend a simple formula called ESP -- Education, Supervision and Prevention."
For youngsters and adults, education includes learning to swim, taking CPR, knowing how to pull a person from the water, and understanding how to dial 911.
"Just like driving a car, a responsible, alcohol-free adult should be designated to supervise water activities," Shook said. "It only takes a moment for a person to get distracted and for a child to disappear from view."
Because most residential drowning episodes occur from the side of the pool closest to the house, a 4-foot, self-latching, self-locking fence is recommended as the minimum barrier between the pool and the back door.
"It’s important for the pool to have appropriate rescue and safety equipment such as a shepherd’s hook pool tool," Shook said. "Those who don’t know how to swim should put on a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life preserver – not a play flotation device – before they enter the water. Pool alarms and covers are great, but should be used to enhance safety, not to take the place of a fence and adult supervision."
Shook also is adamant about one-on-one supervision on lakes and beaches.
"Because of the undercurrent, the beach can be very dangerous," she said. "Choose a location with a lifeguard and keep children with you at all times. When boating, everyone should wear life preservers. Boat passengers should be at least 5 years old. Younger children may be able to swim, but often cannot get out of the water alone."
Water isn’t the only potential danger facing children during summer—being left in a hot car also can result in lethal consequences.
"It’s not only hazardous -- in the state of Texas, leaving a child in a locked car is illegal," Shook said. "Even with the windows partially open, an environmental temperature of 90 degrees can escalate to 125 degrees in less than 20 minutes, and soar to 140 degrees in less than 40 minutes. In moments, severe dehydration or death can occur.
"If you wouldn’t be comfortable in a hot car, why leave your child in one?" Shook said. "Just don’t do it -- ever."
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Texas Children's specialists offer suggestions for keeping children safe as temperatures rise
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