Water Safety

Drowning remains the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death in this age group and the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children ages 1 to 4. The majority of drowning and near drowning occurs in residential swimming pools and in open water sites. However, children can drown in as little as 1 inch of water and are therefore at risk of drowning in wading pools, bathtubs, buckets, diaper pails, toilets, and hot tubs.

In 1999, 927 children ages 14 and under drowned. Children ages 4 and under accounted for more than 60 percent of these deaths.

In 2000, an estimated 6,900 children ages 14 and under were treated in hospital emergency rooms for unintentional drowning and near-drowning incidents.

Safety Tips

• Never leave a child unsupervised in or around water. Empty all containers immediately after use and store out of reach.
• Never leave a child unsupervised in or around a swimming pool or spa, even for a moment.
• Never rely on a personal floatation device or swimming lessons to protect a child. Learn CPR and keep rescue equipment, a telephone and emergency numbers poolside.
• Install four-sided isolation fencing, at least 5 feet high, and equipped with self-closing and self-latching gates. Fencing should completely surround swimming pools or spas and prevent direct access from a house or yard.
• Install safety latches on toilets in the homes of small children. Children often throw items a toilet and try to retrieve them, falling in head first. Many young children do not have enough strength to pull themselves out once they have fallen in head first.
• Always wear an U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal floatation device when on a boat, near open bodies of water or when participating in water sports. Air-filled swimming aids, such as "water wings" are not considered safety devices and are not substitutes for personal floatation devices.
• Never dive in water less than 9 feet deep.
• Children ages 14 and under should never operate a personal watercraft.

Swimming Lessons

Safety in and around water is a life-long skill that will assist people whether they are at a lake, a hotel swimming pool, in a hot tub at their home or fishing by the river.  We promote and encourage parents and care givers to enroll their children in swimming lessons at an early age. 

The University of North Dakota's Swim North Dakota program and the Altru YMCA's program have been long-time partners with Safe Kids Grand Forks in their water safety efforts.  Click on the links below for registration information on both of their swim lesson programs and get your child enrolled today.

UND Swim North Dakota info and registration form

Special Considerations when you Own a Pool

If you have a below-ground pool in your backyard, or if you are considering one, make sure you are knowledgeable about your liability and related safety issues. Above-ground pools also require close attention, as most cities do not have ordinances regarding safety features such as fencing.

Things to consider as a pool owner:

• Most children were being watched by an adult just before they drowned.
• Drowning is one of the leading causes of death for children.
• Home swimming pools are the most common place for a child younger than 5 to drown.

Boating Incidents

Each year there are approximately 7,000 boating incidents in the United States. These incidents result in about 815 deaths. There were 575 people who drown in those boating incidents in 1998. The number of people who drown who were not wearing a life jacket was 509.

In 1998, 17 children ages 14 and under drown in boating-related incidents.

In 1999, at least 34 children ages 14 and under drown in boating related incidents.

In 1999, more than 170 children ages 14 and under suffered personal watercraft-related injuries.

Kids Don't Float Water Safety Classes

Safe Kids Grand Forks and the US Army Corps of Engineers present in May, an annual Water Safety and Boating Course titled Kids Don't Float. Children in grades 2nd - 6th, along with their parents or teachers are invited to participate in this 2-hour course offered.

During the day, selected classes from the Grand Forks School System attend the course. Class participation (school and grade) varies somewhat from year to year. The two evening classes are open to the public (children in grades 2-6 and their parents). The class is free of charge. Registration is required and class sizes are limited. Classes take place at the UND Hyslop Pool. Swimsuits are not required as participants do not get in the water. To register, call 701.780.3416 after April 1st of each year.

The class consists of a 40" interactive presentation on water and boating safety, followed by 5 skill stations. These include:

• Effects of Hyperthermia
• Life Jacket Relay
• Water Rescue Techniques
• Fatal Vision Goggles
• Sample Boating Skills (in battery-operated 2 person boats in the pool)

Major event sponsors include: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, University of North Dakota and Safe Kids Grand Forks. A special thank you to the Grand Forks Sunrise Kiwanis Club who provide many volunteers for the events. Contact the Coalition Coordinator for more information.

Resources

• Water Safety Information Sheet
• Kids Don't Float Activity Book
• Safety Precautions for Spas and Whirlpools
• Personal Floatation Devices & Boating Safety

Water Safety

Safety Tips

Swimming Lesson

Owning a Pool

Boating Incidents

Kids Don't Float

Resources

For more information, contact:

Carma Hanson
Safe Kids Coordinator
Altru Health System
P.O. Box 6002
860 Columbia Road
Grand Forks, ND 58206-6002

Phone: 701.780.1489
Fax: 701.780.6655
E-mail: chanson@altru.org