The New York State Division of Consumer Protection reminds parents and guardians to make water safety a priority for young children as summertime water activities begin. A new U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission report revealed that child drownings remain the leading cause of unintentional death among children ages one to four years old. The report also indicated that from 2018 to 2020, 78 percent of all nonfatal drowning injuries occurred among children younger than five years old. There are basic safety tips New Yorkers can take to help prevent drowning in children.
Safety tips to help prevent drownings:
• Adult Supervision. This is the number one way to prevent drowning. Never leave a child unattended in or near water, and always designate a Water Watcher. This person should not be reading, texting, using a smartphone, drinking alcoholic beverages, or otherwise distracted.
• Swim Lessons. Multiple studies show swim lessons prevent drowning. Learn how to swim and teach your child how to swim.
• Life Jackets. Put life jackets on kids anytime they are on a boat or participating in other open water recreational activities. Personal flotation devices should always be used for children that do not know how to swim. NYS Law requires that children under 12 wear a Coast Guard-approved life vest on a boat or water vessel. For more information on proper life jackets, go to the United States Coast Guard site at: https://uscgboating.org/recreational-boaters/life-jacket-wear-wearing-your-life-jacket.php
• Learn CPR. Every second counts and CPR can help in an emergency.
• Put Up Barriers. Install appropriate safety barriers around in-home pools and spas. This includes fences, gates, door alarms and covers.
• Pool Alarms. Install a pool alarm to detect and provide notification of unattended pool access.
• Small Pools. Drain and put away smaller portable pools when not in use.
• Cover Drains. Keep children away from pool drains, pipes and other openings to avoid them getting stuck. Also, ensure any pool and spa you use has drain covers that comply with federal safety standards, which include drain shape, drain cover size, and rate of water flow. Learn more here.
The New York State Division of Consumer Protection serves to educate, assist and empower the State’s consumers. Consumers can file a complaint with the Division of Consumer Protection at https://dos.ny.gov/consumer-protection.
For more consumer protection information, call the DCP Helpline at 800-697-1220, Monday through Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm or visit the DCP website at https://dos.ny.gov/consumer-protection. The Division can also be reached via Twitter at @NYSConsumer or Facebook at www.facebook.com/nysconsumer.
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