Water Safety

Make a Safe Splash

While playing poolside may be a blast, Safe Kids Worldwide reports that drowning is the leading cause of injury-related death for children ages 1 to 4 and it is the third leading cause of injury-related death among children 19 and under. Additionally, University of Michigan Health Systems estimates that each year about 6,000 young people under age 14 are hospitalized because of a diving injury, with one in five sustaining a spinal cord injury. Prevent accidents and injuries with these tips to ensure your family's safety around water:

• Teach children to never swim alone or go near water without an adult present.
• Give children your undivided attention when they are swimming or are near any body of water.
• Always jump in feet first to check the depth before diving into any body of water.
• Never dive in the shallow end of the pool or into above-ground pools.

Fun on the Water
Boating, tubing and other water sports can be great fun but can also be dangerous. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, nearly 71 percent of all boating fatalities are caused from drowning, 85 percent of which are a result of not wearing a life jacket. Here is what you can do to enjoy the water safely:

• Always have children wear a Coast Guard-approved, properly fitted life jacket while on a boat, around an open body of water or when participating in water sports.
• Educate yourself. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, 86 percent of boating accident deaths involve boaters who have not completed a safety course.
• Always check water conditions and forecasts before going out on the water.

• Adapting After an Accident
• Thirteen-year-old Sydney Kendall knows the importance of water safety. After losing her right forearm during a boating accident six years ago, Sydney was brought to Shriners Hospitals for Children where she received a prosthesis and occupational therapy to help her learn how to adapt.
• As Sydney's confidence grew, so did her ambition to get back in the water. She became a Shriners Hospitals for Children Patient Ambassador and challenged herself to mentor other patients through ability awareness presentations. She also joined a competitive swim team and participated in a triathlon.
  Sydney's newest challenge is to help increase awareness about summer safety. She invites parents and children to visit ShrinersHospitalsforChildren.org/SafeSummer to find tips for preventing injuries this season.