Follow these guidelines to ensure your children’s safety in water

With more drowning cases being reported in the country in recent times, the Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has come up with a set of guidelines to urge families to ensure children’s safety in swimming pools, sea and other sources of water.

In Qatar, drowning is a leading cause of death and serious disability in children and the number of child deaths is rising annually, according to Dr Khalid Abdulnoor Saifeldeen, Chairman, Kulluna Health and Safety Campaign.

90% of cases of drowning involve children aged 10 or under, with 70% younger than four years old.

“Most drowning cases in Qatar occur at home, in private swimming pools and bathtubs. Though we don’t have open lakes and rivers, some incidents of drowning occur in the sea because families often go to the beach for picnics and leisure activities at this time of the year,” said Dr. Saifeldeen.

“Almost all drowning incidents in swimming pools happen when parents aren’t present and either one child or a group of children are left to swim alone by themselves.”

Constant supervision is the key to keeping a child safe around water, he stressed.

“You’ll not be aware that a child is in trouble unless you’re watching him or her. Don’t leave children on their own around or in the water, even if they can swim, even if they’re wearing life jackets.

“Supervision means you can see and hear them and can reach them very quickly, because drowning can take seconds to happen and it often happens in silence,” he added.

Secure gate or other barriers can prevent unintentional access to sources of water. However, it must be checked and maintained regularly to ensure its working as a child quickly grows in height and dexterity.

 “Always close the doors to bathrooms and drain paddling pools, baths and buckets immediately after use. About 70 to 80% of drowning cases happen when the child is not supposed to be in the water,” Dr Saifeldeen said.

There are schools and clubs in Qatar where children can learn swimming and parents can teach their kids under direct supervision.

Small children and those inexperienced or weak swimmers should wear life jackets or a personal flotation aid when in or near water, even with parents around.

Learning CPR could be very useful as the first few minutes following an accident in water are critical.

“Keep your training up to date and keep CPR instructions with your first aid kit, and by the pool, if you have one. Kulluna offers free CPR training and anyone interested can send a message through our website www.kulluna.qa.”

Courtesy: thepeninsulaqatar.com