Drowning Prevention and CPR Awareness

Now that summer is here, it's important to brush up on swim safety!

⚠️ It’s estimated that 23% of child drownings happen during a family gathering near a pool. According to @cdcgov, drowning rates among children ages 1 to 4 were 28% higher in 2021 and 2022 than they were in 2019.

Michael Jimenez, MD, our medical director of trauma and acute care surgery services, spoke with local media stations to share swim safety tips, demonstrate how to perform infant and adult CPR and show how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED).

Here are some water safety tips to keep in mind at your next outing to the pool:

• Keep your pool area secured
• Designate or hire a “water watcher”
• Have your child wear bright and contrasting colors, such as neon yellow, orange, pink and bright red. Avoid colors such as white, pastels, blue, black and those that match the bottom color of the pool they are swimming in.
• Ensure your child is wearing a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life vest. Remember, a floatation device does not replace direct supervision by a "water watcher"
• Put your children in swim lessons – make sure they are water-safe, so they have the skills to get to the side if they accidentally fall in
• Get CPR-certified - check your city website or visit the American Red Cross website for upcoming classes

What to do in the event you’re on the scene of a near drowning/drowning:

• Get the victim out of the water
• Call or designate someone to call 9-1-1
• Begin CPR
• Designate someone to find an AED if one is accessible
• Trade off maintaining CPR until paramedics arrive