Tip of the Week - May 18, 2016 - Keep Kids Safe - Swimming Pool Drowning Prevention Reminders

On May 15, 2016,  a 4-year-old boy drowned in a Rohnert Park apartment complex swimmingpool. Undetected by family and tenants who were nearby, the child slipped off his kickboard and went underwater.

When a child slips underwater and drowns, there is often no splashing or cry for help.  Drowning is silent and, in California, it is the leading cause of injury-related deaths among children under the age of five.  Near drowning incidents often result in a lifetime of disabilities and difficulties.  It is important to pay close attention to children when they are in, or around, a swimming pool.

"Drowning is preventable,"  said CSLEA Foundation Chairman Kenny Ehrman.  "Never take your eyes off a young child who is in or near the water.  Keep them within your reach.  Install alarms on doors and windows that lead to your pool. "

Add layers of protection between children and your pool by installing fences, gates, latches, and alarms.  Talk to children about staying out of the water unless an adult is present. 

Keep in mind, children can drown in bathtubs, buckets, ponds and even the toilet.  Never leave a child alone near water.