The Editor, Sir:

The recent report in The Gleaner of children drowning since the beginning of the summer is extremely disturbing. Published reports from Barbados indicate that schoolchildren comprise the majority of cases of drowning during the summer holidays.

While many children die in large bodies of water such as pools and rivers, children under one year old are most likely to drown in bathtubs, buckets and toilets. A child can drown in less than two inches of water in a matter of a few minutes.

A study of children-drowning noted that the child was last seen in the home, went missing from sight for less than five minutes or were in the care of one or both parents at the time of drowning.

Most people believe that they'll hear sounds of distress when a child is in trouble in the water but they won't. There's no scream, no splash, no churning of water, as depicted in the movies. Just silence. That's the sound of a child drowning.

To prevent drowning:

Empty water from bathtubs, pails or other container immediately after use.

Do not leave children unsupervised in or around any amount of water. Toddlers, who reach into a toilet or a bucket and fall in head-first, might not be strong enough to get themselves out. Latch the bathroom door. Cover stored water securely and keep in a safe place.

Teach your child to swim. By age five, most children are developed and mentally ready to learn to swim. Even after they become proficient swimmers, never allow young children to swim without adult supervision.

Children should be taught the importance of never to swim alone.

Do not rely on floatation pool toys. These can lose air or float away from inexperienced swimmers.

All children should wear a life jacket when aboard any boat, regardless of the distance travelled or the ability of boaters to swim.

Teach older teens not to consume alcohol especially before and during swimming.

Households which already have a pool should install a fence at least five feet high on all sides with a self-closing latch. Locks and alarms should be installed on all doors and windows leading to the pool.

Learn CPR.

Finally, the most important way to keep your child safe is to keep your eyes on them. Assign an adult as water watcher during swimming. Each assigned adult should monitor children without distractions such as headphones or reading material.

I am, etc,

Dr TRACY EVANS-GILBERT

tracye@cwjamaica.com

Paediatrician/Public Health Specialist

Cornwall Regional Hospital

Mount Salem

Montego Bay

Via Go-Jamaica