A child can drown in the time it takes to answer a phone.
A serious accident can unfold in seconds. Many children drown within a few metres of their parents, when they are speaking on the phone or attending to a sibling or are otherwise distracted.
Drowning is considered a “silent death”. They make no sound and once in the water are not easily visible.
Most drowning victims don’t yell or wave their arms to alert someone that they are in trouble. They are in a state of shock, struggling to breathe and are normally silent.
The age-group 1 – 4 years is the most susceptible to drowning.
Drowning is the leading cause of death for children under five and the second leading cause of death for children under 14.
Of all pre-schoolers who drown, 70% are in the care of one or both parents at the time of drowning and 75% are missing from sight for five minutes or less.
For every child who drowns, four are hospitalized for near-drowning.
The longer the victim is submerged, the greater the chance of permanent brain damage or death. After four minutes without oxygen, brain cells begin to die, and irreversible brain damage occurs.
Near-drowning accidents can lead to permanent neurological damage, life-long disabilities and leaving the parents with catastrophic medical costs and years of recovery and therapy.
Research indicates that the number of drowning incidents in a relative or a friend’s pool has grown to 41% in recent years. This suggests that parents need to be extra vigilant whenever visiting homes with pools that may not have “layers of protection”.
Layers of protection are: a door chime alarm that sounds when doors leading to the pool area are opened; effective pool fencing and self-closing access gates; a gate alarm at the pool access gate; pool safety covers; diligent adult supervision – but if the child should get past all of these – then Safety Turtle is an effective “last line of defence” to protect your child from swimming pool accidents – from when a child first becomes mobile, until they have learnt to swim strongly.
It is the “alarm that shouts for help when your child cannot”
Learn to swim:
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Every child should be enrolled at a recognized & reputable Swim School!
Every child has the right to be taught to swim!
