Every Sunday, we will share a story of a non-fatal drowning, discuss where things went wrong, and give some pointers on how to prevent it from happening to the people you love. Thankfully, these stories have happy endings for those involved, but sadly, we lose too many people to drowning every year. We hope examining these real-life stories help put the dangers of water into perspective and help you introduce various principles of water safety to your family!
Read today’s Sunday Survival Story to see how important it is to check the water first when a child is missing. That’s exactly what 8 year old Tino did when he noticed his little sister was no longer playing in the room with him, and he probably saved her life.
Humans, especially children, are naturally attracted to water. If a child is ever missing, you should always check water areas first- the pool, the bathtub, or even the pond/ditch in the back yard. There are many layers of protection that can be implemented to help prevent water access at home.
For areas inside the house
-Make sure tub water is drained when no one is actively bathing
-Shut doors to rooms containing water access, such as laundry rooms
-Make sure fish tanks have secured lids
For outside the home
-Eliminate doggy doors (easy access to outside for toddlers)
-Fence in pools, ponds, or natural bodies of water in the yard
-Have alarms for if someone unexpectantly enters the water
Always discuss water access with your children. Instill from an early age that they should only enter the water after letting an adult know, whether inside or outside the home. Make sure all family members, visitors, and babysitters also know how you feel about water access and know to check the water first if your child goes missing under their watch.
Spend time today implementing layers of protection against water access in your home and vicinity. Have fun, be safe, and check the water first!
