December 5, 2023
Bud Kearns Municipal Pool in Balboa Park. Courtesy of town

As households and pals collect for poolside barbecues and picnic celebrations this July 4th weekend and all through the summer season, the Nationwide Drowning Prevention Alliance (NDPA.org) is bringing consideration to frequent misperceptions about how and when drownings happen to assist save lives with a brand new public service announcement.

Drowning is the only main reason behind loss of life for youngsters 1-4 and the second main reason behind harm loss of life for youngsters 5-14.

In line with NDPA, 88% of kid drownings happen with a minimum of one grownup current, and 50% of youngsters drown inside 25 yards of a mother or father or different grownup. With tens of millions of households and pals celebrating the summer season and the July 4th vacation round swimming pools, oceans, and lakes, NDPA is stressing the significance of shut, fixed, and succesful supervision, whereas reminding mother and father that drownings can happen with out warning and will not look or sound like what one may count on.

NDPA, in collaboration with promoting company Doner, joined forces on a public service marketing campaign entitled Drowning Doesn’t Look Like Drowning. Set to launch on Saturday, July 1, the aim of the marketing campaign is to shatter frequent drowning myths and direct mother and father and caregivers on the place to seek out extra data and assets.

The chilling:30 second PSA created by Doner, an 86-year-old promoting company recognized for its distinctive strategic, inventive, and manufacturing capabilities, exhibits how simply the actual indicators of kid drownings can go unnoticed even when adults are within the neighborhood. Within the video titled, “Drowning Doesn’t Look Like Drowning”, the viewers is led to consider they’re experiencing a gorgeous summer season day, however if truth be told, they’re witnessing a toddler drowning. The PSA closes with the message – no splashing, no waving, no yelling, study the indicators at DrowningDoesntLookLikeDrowning.com. (Click on right here to view/obtain the PSA.)

“There’s a frequent saying amongst water security advocates that when everyone seems to be watching, nobody is watching,” mentioned Adam Katchmarchi, Ph.D. and Government Director, NDPA. “Moreover, drowning doesn’t happen the best way we’re used to seeing it on tv or within the motion pictures with lots of noise and splashing. With most youngsters unable to

name out for assist, the very fact is, drowning is fast, quiet, and infrequently occurs when adults are current. Statistics additionally present that 23% of kid drownings happen throughout a household pool gathering.”

“As an company the place lots of our staff have younger youngsters, we had been shocked by the statistics round baby drownings and felt compelled to make use of our creativity to encourage this dialog and promote security coaching,” mentioned Colin Jeffery, CCO of Doner. “Little one drowning is a preventable drawback, but an growing one. And schooling must be finished round drowning prevention as a result of so typically it occurs whereas mother and father are shut and unaware. Our mission with this PSA is to achieve tens of millions of fogeys with the hope of saving lives this summer season.”

Along with being featured on NDPA.org and shared on the group’s social channels, the Drowning Doesn’t Look Like Drowning PSA will likely be distributed to the group’s companions and native drowning prevention advocates across the nation to extend consciousness. The PSA will even be made accessible to media organizations and publications for distribution.

Added Katchmarchi, “Whereas the vast majority of drownings are unintended, the excellent news is drownings could be prevented if mother and father and caregivers discover ways to acknowledge drownings throughout each swim and non-swim occasions and familiarize themselves with and put into observe the 5 layers of safety.”

In line with NDPA, mother and father and caregivers want to stay equally vigilant after the pool social gathering is over. A staggering 70% of toddler drownings happen throughout the non-swim time when a toddler will not be anticipated to be within the water however finds his or her technique to a pool or different open water supply undetected. NDPA recommends the next water security suggestions to assist forestall a drowning incident this summer season:

  1. Have a chosen, lively water watcher always
    • Grownup water watchers want to supply shut, fixed, and succesful supervision.
    • Water watchers want to remain centered and by no means be distracted by a mobile phone, conversations, or different diversion.
    • Water watchers can’t be underneath the affect of medication or alcohol.
    • Water watchers ought to rotate each quarter-hour.
  2. Determine weak and non-swimmers and at all times observe contact supervision by with the ability to attain out and contact non-swimmers always
  3. Swim close to a lifeguard at any time when potential. With an grownup water watcher designated even when lifeguards are current.
  4. Enroll your baby in high-quality swim classes as early as their first birthday. However bear in mind, even good swimmers can drown.
  5. Don’t overly depend on one layer of defendion as layers can break down and are designed for use together with each other to scale back danger.
  6. Study CPR with rescue breaths and what to do in an emergency.

By adopting the following tips and practising NDPA’s 5 Layers of Safety when having fun with a yard pool, whereas on trip, or when a toddler is uncovered to open water, mother and father have the ability to forestall drowning.

To study extra, go to ndpa.org.