(NEWSCHANNEL 3) – School is officially out for summer and with a hot weekend on the horizon, many will hit the swimming pools and lakes.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a warning for parents this summer. The CDC said drowning is the second-leading cause of accidental deaths in kids under the age of 15, and it does not look like it does in the movies.
“Drowning in a pool is a silent event. It’s not like in the movies when people make a big deal. They go under and they’re down,” said pool owner, Cori Fiddes.
Nearly half of child drownings happen within 25 yards of an adult and 10 percent of adults will witness the situation without even realizing the drowning is happening, according to the CDC. Often what many think of as the tell-tale signs of drowning — flailing arms and shouting for help — simply do not happen.
“People think of somebody yelling and something very dramatic. That’s just not how it goes down. They’re struggling so much they can’t. They’re very short of breath; they can’t breathe. So, if they get anything out, it would be a little bit surprising,” said Dr. Thomas Rohs, the trauma medical director at Borgess Medical Center.
Experts recommend keeping your kids close enough to touch them when in the water, and said watching from the side of the pool might not even be enough to spot a child who is struggling. Older kids and teens, even those who are proficient swimmers, should also always swim with a buddy.
If you are having a pool party, doctors recommend having someone designated as the “water watcher” at all times.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission also recommends all kids learn how to swim from certified swimming instructors.
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