Drowning Prevention Tips It’s silent, happens quickly, and is 100% preventable. Florida has the highest overall unintentional drowning death rate for 1- to 4-year-olds, three times the national average. Enough children drown each year in Florida to fill three to four preschool classrooms, and it can happen to your loved one. Drowning does not discriminate. The NCH Safe & Healthy Children’s Coalition recognizes that multiple layers of protection are necessary to prevent drowning. No single device or solution can prevent pediatric drownings. Parents, caregivers, aquatic facility owners, managers, and operators should use “layers of protection” to provide a system of increased security to prevent unauthorized access to pools and other bodies of water; this is especially important for children. This means that multiple strategies or devices are used constantly and simultaneously.
“Layers of Protection” include:
Learn to Swim
Supervise – Never take your eyes off children in and around water
To stay safer in the water, all family members should learn to swim well. Teach children never to swim alone, an adult must watch them in any body of water. Young children and inexperienced swimmers need to wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket. Never leave a child alone around water. Remember, no one is drown-proof, no matter how well they swim. The American Association of Pediatrics says children can safely take swim lessons as early as age one.
Actively supervise children in and around open bodies of water, giving them your undivided attention. When there are several adults present and children are swimming, use the Water Watcher card strategy, which designates an adult as the Water Watcher for a certain amount of time (such as 15-minute periods) to prevent lapses in supervision. If your child is missing, check nearby pools and other water areas first.
Use Barriers
Know How to Respond
Fences, self-closing/self-latching gates, and secured doors with alarms can prevent young children from wandering into a pool, canal, lake, pond, ocean, or other bodies of water. Check for broken or missing drain covers.
Get training in basic water rescue skills, first aid, and CPR. Have rescue equipment and a phone by the pool.
For more information about swimming lessons and CPR classes in Collier County, please visit the NCH Safe and Healthy Children’s Coalition on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or WaterSmartCollier.com or call/e-mail at (239) 624-4033 or Info@SafehealthyChildren.org .
Sun Safety Tips for Summer Just a few serious sunburns can increase your risk of skin cancer later in life. Nearly 5 million people are treated for skin cancer each year in the United States. Fortunately, most skin cancers can be prevented.
• Ultraviolet (UV) rays—from the sun or artificial sources like tanning beds—are known to cause skin cancer.
• Damage from exposure to UV rays builds up over time, so sun protection should start at an early age.
Stay Sun-Safe Outdoors
Treating a Sunburn
• Seek shade, especially during midday hours from 10 am to 4 pm, March through October, and 9 am to 3 pm, November through February. Umbrellas, trees, or other shelters can provide relief from the sun. • Sunglasses protect your eyes from UV rays and reduce the risk of cataracts and other eye problems. Wrap-around sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays offer the best protection by blocking UV rays from the side. • Be extra careful around surfaces that reflect the sun’s rays, like snow, sand, water, and concrete. • Wear sun protection gear like a hat with a wide brim and sunglasses to protect your face and eyes. • Wear a long-sleeved shirt and pants or a long skirt for additional protection when possible. If that is not practical, try wearing a T-shirt or a beach cover-up. • Apply a thick layer of broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher at least 15 minutes before going outside, even on cloudy or overcast days. Reapply sunscreen at least every two hours and after swimming, sweating, or toweling off.
• Take aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen to relieve pain, headache, and fever. • Drink plenty of water and soothe burns with cool baths or by gently applying cool, wet cloths. • Use a topical moisturizing cream or aloe to provide additional relief. • Do not go back into the sun until the burn has healed.
Seek medical attention if any of the following occur:
• Severe sunburn, especially if it covers more than 15% of the body. • Dehydration • High fever (above 101°F). • Extreme pain that lasts more than 48 hours. • If you are experiencing severe symptoms from sun exposure, please visit the Marco Urgent Care Center or any one of the NCH Immediate Care Centers located throughout Collier and South Lee Counties. For more information, visit nchmd.org.
MAY 2021
3 NCH HEALTHCARE SYSTEM | Helping everyone live a longer, happier, and healthier life.
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