Focus Magazine of SWFL Hot Summer Looks | Page 126

Tips to Help Prevent Drowning

Photo courtesy of United States Swim School Association

By Laura Baumgartner

Parents should begin water safety with kids at 6 months
Drowning is one of the leading causes of death in the United
States. On average, 3,533 people die as a result of drowning each year, and most of those deaths are children under
the age of four who drown in backyard swimming pools. The
tragedy of these statistics is nearly all drowning deaths are
preventable. To help educate children, parents, families and
swim instructors on preventive measures to avoid a drowning
incident, US Swim School Association (USSSA), the preeminent swim school organization in the country, has compiled
the latest life-saving water safety and swim instruction tips
for National Water Safety Month in May.
There are several standard water safety precautions recommended to parents including: keeping children under constant supervision, enrolling children in swimming lessons,
knowing CPR, having pool fences and barriers installed. In
addition to these vital steps, USSSA has created a list of tips
parents can use to build extra layers of protection for their
children around water.
For more information on USSSA, details on becoming a member of the nation’s
leading swim school organization, or to find a USSSA affiliated swim school
near you, visit:

www.usswimschool.org
1
26 FOCUS of SWFL 2014