New Pediatrician Recommendations

Parents should consider swimming lessons for most children between ages 1 and 4, the American Academy of Pediatrics urges  in new guidelines on drowning prevention and water safety. This is an updated recommendation reflecting several studies that have shown a correlation between swim lessons for young children and water safety. “In light of new research that has revealed that swim instruction for children 1 to 4 years of age may decrease drowning, it is reasonable for the AAP to relax its policy regarding the age at which children should start learning water-survival skills,” the authors say in the report. Drowning is the second-leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 19, according to the AAP report. New data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commissions finds children between the ages of 1 and 2 represent 47 percent of submersion injuries and 53 percent of fatalities for children younger than 15. The CPSC has launched Poolsafety.gov as as an educational resource for parents, providing pool safety videos and links to resources on drowning prevention. “Children need to learn to swim,” say the authors of the Pediatrics report. But they also warn parents not to equate swimming lessons with “drown proofing.” A multilayered safety approach is recommended. Children with swimming instruction and skills can still drown. "Parents know they should be vigilant while children swim, trouble can occur in an instant of inattention", said Dr. Jeffrey Weiss of Phoenix Children's Hospital and lead author of the policy. "It's not a lack of supervision, it's a lapse of supervision," Weiss said. The updated policy, released in May (2010) by the Journal of Pediatrics, also recommends fences around all pools, even popular inflatable ones. Kids can drown by leaning over the soft sides and falling in. Beside swimming lessons, here are three additional things parents can do: Fence in your pool: Many parents do not consider putting fencing around large inflatable pools,the AAP says,  and because these pools are considered to be potable, they fall outside of many state regulations. The AAP recommends parents install a four-sided fence that is at least 4 feet high if you have any kind of pool in your back yard. The American Red Cross also offers a home pool maintenance class online to help you ensure your pool is set up properly. The two-hour class costs $19.95 and you receive a manual to keep at your home. Learn CPR: According to the NIH, “all parents and those who take care of children should learn infant and child CPR if they haven't already.” But note that CPR recommendations vary by age group. You can find a CPR training class near you through the American Heart Association, and the National Institutes of Health has guidelines for performing CPR on children between the ages of 1 and 8. Purchase the proper gear: The AAP warns against using inflatable swimming aids because they can easily lose air and they “are not designed to keep swimmers safe.” On the academy's  website, parents can view a list of the types of personal flotation devices approved by the U.S. Coast Guard. CNN Today Pool Safety.gov KTAR.com

Last Updated on Friday, June 04 2010 14:36