Atrium Health Navicent Encourages Summer Water Safety
With summer starting and Georgia’s temperatures soaring, Atrium Health Navicent encourages the community to take care when cooling down in pools and natural bodies of water such as rivers, lakes and the ocean to reduce drowning risk.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning is a leading cause of injury and death for young children aged 1 to 14. Three children die every day as a result of drowning.
Parents and others in the community can help prevent drowning by:
- Learning life-saving skills: Everyone should know the basics of swimming (floating and moving through the water) and how to perform CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).
- Fencing off swimming pools and other bodies of water near homes: Fencing with self-closing and self-latching gates can help keep children away from water when they aren’t being supervised. Fences also separate homes and play areas from pools and other bodies of water.
- Wear a life jacket: Children and weaker swimmers should wear life jackets in and around pools and other bodies of water – even if they know how to swim.
- Always supervise children in water: When children are in or near water (including bathtubs) they should be supervised at all times. Drowning happens quickly and quietly. Adults supervising should avoid distracting activities like playing cards, reading books, talking on the phone, drinking alcohol and using drugs.
“When it comes to children and water, flotation devices, and even coast guard approved life jackets are helpful but neither replace the need for constant adult supervision,” said Dr. Christy Peterson, a pediatrician at Atrium Health Navicent. “Children should be taught to swim early. But even for strong swimmers, when it comes to children, the need for constant adult supervision still applies.”
About Atrium Health Navicent
Atrium Health Navicent, the leading provider of health care in central and south Georgia, is committed to its mission of elevating health and wellbeing through compassionate care. Providing more than 1,000 beds and offering care in 53 specialties at more than 50 facilities throughout the region, Atrium Health Navicent provides care for health care consumers through an academic medical center; community, pediatric and rehabilitation hospitals; urgent care centers; physician practices; diagnostic centers; home health; hospice and palliative care; and a life plan community. Atrium Health Navicent is dedicated to enhancing health and wellness for individuals throughout the region through nationally recognized quality care, community health initiatives and collaborative partnerships. For more information, please visit www.NavicentHealth.org.
###