injuries and poisoning
Drowning
Prevention of Drowning
People should not use alcohol or drugs before or during swimming, while boating (even as a passenger), or when supervising children around water. Swimming pools should comply with local laws regarding pool safety, including being adequately fenced, because they are one of the most common sites of drowning accidents. In addition, all doors and gates leading to the pool area should be locked. Children in or near any body of water, including pools and bathtubs, need constant supervision, regardless of whether flotation devices are used. Ideally, supervision should be at arm's length. Because infants and young children can drown in only a few inches of water, even water-filled containers, such as buckets or ice chests, are hazardous. Adults should remove water from these containers immediately after use. Small children should wear approved life jackets or personal flotation devices when playing near bodies of water. Air-filled swimming aids and foam toys (water wings, noodles, and similar items) are not designed to keep swimmers safe and should not be used as substitutes for approved equipment. Formal swimming lessons reduce the risk of fatal drowning in children aged 1 to 4 years. Swimming lessons are a good idea for all children. However, even children who have taken swimming lessons should be supervised when they are in or around water. Swimmers should use common sense and be aware of weather and water conditions. Swimming should stop if people feel or look very cold. People who have seizures that are well controlled need not avoid swimming, but they should be careful near water, whether boating, showering, or bathing. To decrease the risk of drowning, people should not swim alone and should swim only in areas patrolled by lifeguards. Ocean swimmers should learn to escape rip currents (strong currents that pull away from the shore) by swimming parallel to the beach rather than by swimming toward the beach. People who practice dangerous underwater breath-holding behaviors should be supervised and should know the dangers of this activity. People do not need to wait an hour after eating to return to swimming. There is no substantial evidence to support the myth that cramps cause drowning when swimming too soon after eating. People do not need to wait an hour after eating to return to swimming. Wearing Coast Guard–approved life jackets when in boats is encouraged for everyone and is required for nonswimmers and for small children. Spinal injuries can be prevented by not diving into shallow water. Community swimming areas need to be supervised by lifeguards trained in water safety, First-Aid Treatment for Cardiac Arrest , and rescue techniques. Life preservers, life jackets, and a shepherd's crook (a long staff with one end hooked) should be available close to poolside. Pool areas should have access to automated external defibrillators, equipment for opening airways, and telephones to contact emergency medical services. Comprehensive community prevention programs should do the following: Target high-risk groups Teach as many adolescents and adults cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) as possible Teach children to swim as soon as they are developmentally ready 