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CAC collaborates efforts to prevent child drownings

Cleburne Times-Review - 4/7/2018

April 06--Every day, about 10 people die from unintentional drowning. Of these, two are children aged 14 or younger, ranking drowning fifth among the leading causes of unintentional injury death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Children's Advocacy Center of Johnson County's child fatality review board collects evidence from child deaths to see if it was preventable or not, and then uses that information to educate parents and caregivers.

CAC Executive Director Tammy King said drowning remains one of the top most preventable child deaths that occur in Johnson County.

"When we do the child fatality staffing at the center, every year we still have children that are dying from drowning accidents," she said. "It's just kids running outside and getting into a pool, or there is a pool party and someone looks away and doesn't see that the child is in trouble."

To prevent such deaths, the center is working with first responders and medical teams within Johnson County in the Lifeguard Your Child campaign.

Originally a campaign for Cook Children's Medical Center, Lifeguard Your Child is aimed at equipping adults and children with safety techniques and layers of protection whenever children are around water.

Joshua Fire Department firefighter Ashley Parker said drowning prevention is important to her.

"We felt [at the fire department] there really was a need for it in our area," she said.

Parker said several cities in the county have already gotten a head start on water safety before summer and swimming season begins.

"In Alvarado, they've lined up two hotels that will offer free swimming lessons for kids for two hours once a week," she said. "We have an apartment complex in Joshua that we've set up some training at. We are going to go out to elementary schools to talk to the kids about respecting water."

Sneaking out on their own to get into a pool, Parker said, is one of the biggest issues.

"We remind the children that while the water is fun they still have to respect it and be cautious around it," she said.

In one effort to prevent drowning, the CAC gives out free Water Watcher tags for adults to wear.

"These are a reminder for parents not to be distracted when there are kids in the water," Parker said. "They wear it around their wrist for 10 minutes or so at a time and they promise not to be on the phone or socializing. They are supposed to be paying attention to the kids."

King said she hopes to soon work with the city of Cleburne to create stations at Lake Pat Cleburne with loaner life vests.

Cleburne Mayor Scott Cain said he grew up around water and has a tremendous respect for the dangers of Texas lakes,

"Several other lakes have implemented loaner programs at docks and boat ramps and anything we can do to prevent child or adult drownings is important," he said. "However, just making life jackets accessible is not enough -- educating the public about water safety is critical.

"It's important to wear Coast Guard-approved jackets when entering the water, regardless of how strong a swimmer you are. When I was involved in competitive wakeboarding, one of the young competitors drowned while untangling a ski line. Understanding watercraft safety is important as well."

Lifeguard Your Child offers the following tips for whenever children are around water:

--Require adult Water Watchers to stay close and actively watch children in water. Water Watchers must stay off cell phones and not talk to other guests during their 15 minutes shift.

--If you are alone with your child, stay with your child. Get in the water with your child and be in arm's reach.

--Swim with U.S. Coast Guard-approved life vests. Don't use floaties filled with air.

--Learn to swim at any age.

--Learn CPR.

--Install a fence on all sides of a backyard pool or spa. Secure the fence with a self-latching gate.

--Use alarms that can be put on children's wrists.

--Update pool/spa drain covers.

--Follow pool rules and signs.

--In large pools, it's ideal to split up in groups and take sections of the pool.

When events for drowning prevention training become available, they will be listed at www.cacjctx.org.

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(c)2018 the Cleburne Times-Review (Cleburne, Texas)

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