24
sahtak - June 2011
A safe summer starts with proper
water safety for children
(ARA) —Kids and water play go together like peanut butter and jelly. Sadly,
what is a fun, healthy activity for most children, too often brings tragedy
and heartbreak for others. Each year, more than 3,400 people drown in
the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC), and more than one in five fatal drowning victims are children
younger than 14. Drowning is the second-leading cause of injury-re-
lated death among children ages 1 to 14.
For every child who dies from drowning, another four are injured
in nonfatal drownings, CDC statistics show. Many of the children who
survive will face lifetimes of long-term disabilities. Typically, when a child
drowns, the parent or caregiver has been away from the child for less than five
minutes according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
"The single most effective thing parents can do to protect their children from drowning is to
ensure they know how to swim," says Debbie Hesse, executive director of the USA Swimming
Foundation. "Learning how to swim is not only a fun way to encourage exercise, it can save a
child's life."
Unfortunately, lack of swimming knowledge is common among American children, espe-
cially among minority populations. In fact, seven out of every 10 African-American and His-
panic children cannot swim, according to a national research study by USA Swimming and the
University of Memphis. African-American children drown at a rate nearly three times higher
than their Caucasian peers, the CDC reports.
To help combat these statistics, the USA Swimming Foundation has granted more than $1.5
million dollars to communities across the nation to help provide free or discounted lessons so
that all children will have the opportunity to learn to swim.
This June, the Foundation will launch its annual cross-country water safety tour, Make a
Splash with Cullen Jones, presented by ConocoPhillips. The tour aims to raise awareness about
the importance of learning to swim. The USA Swimming Foundation offers parents five tips for
keeping children safe in and around water this summer:
1. Teach children to swim. It's the best way to be safer in the water. Research shows that par-
ents are the most influential factors in whether or not a child learns to swim. Only 13 percent
of children from non-swimming households will ever learn to swim, according to national re-
search conducted by the University of Memphis for USA Swimming.
2. Make sure a responsible adult is watching the water at all times. Drowning can be com-
pletely silent, and most child drownings occur when the victim has been out of sight for less
than five minutes.
3. Remind kids to always obey the rules of the pool, not to jump on or dunk other swimmers,
and not to jump or dive unless they know how deep the water is.
4. Require kids to always swim with a buddy.
5. Remember, you don't have to be at a pool to drown. Lakes, rivers, large puddles and any
other bodies of water also require caution. Make sure your child knows how to swim, whether
or not they'll be around a pool this summer.
"Swimming is unique in that there is a lifesaving element to it - it can be fun and competitive,
but learning to swim can also save a life," Hesse says. "It's a skill every child needs, and one that
every child should have regardless of their social or economic situation."
As part of its Make a Splash water safety initiative, the USA Swimming Foundation, in part-
nership with ConocoPhillips, is providing resources for families, including swimming lessons that
are low cost or even free, depending on a family's economic need. To find local learn-to-swim
groups in your community, visit
.
Making a splash: "Learning how to swim is not only a fun
way to encourage exercise, it can save a child's life."
LANSING
—With the severe wet weather Michigan has ex-
perienced over the last few weeks, residents could see more
mosquito activity. The Michigan Department of Agriculture
& Rural Development (MDARD) offers mosquito mitigation
tips and reminds consumers to exercise care when applying
insect repellent. Insect repellents are most often used to deter
mosquitoes, biting flies, and ticks that are annoying and can
pose a serious health risk. Excessive use of products con-
taining diethyltoluamide (DEET), however, can result in ad-
verse health effects, particularly in children if not properly
applied.
"As the weather warms up and the yards dry out, it often sig-
nals more time outside with friends and family — especially
as we are headed into a holiday weekend — but can also
bring an onslaught of insects such as mosquitoes and ticks. If
you're going to use an insect repellent, it's essential you follow
the application guidelines listed on the bottle, especially on
children," said Keith Creagh, MDARD Director. "Michigan
is home to 60 different species of mosquitoes each of which
are picky about who they feed on as well as they have the po-
tential to spread diseases such as West Nile Virus, so con-
sumers need to exercise precaution throughout the summer
months."
Tips for reducing mosquito levels include:
• Consider the use of non-chemical means to prevent biting -
screens, netting, long sleeves, closed shoes, and slacks.
• Practice prevention by eliminating breeding grounds for
mosquitoes. Eliminate any standing water near the home, if
possible.
• Use biological controls for small lakes and ponds such as
Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis available at many stores.
The American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on En-
vironmental Health recommends the following:
• Repellents with DEET should not be used on infants less
than two months old.
• When using a repellent on a child, apply it to your own
hands and then rub them on your child.
• Avoid children's eyes and mouth and use it
sparingly around their ears. Do not
apply repellent to children’s hands.
• Do not allow young children
to apply insect repellent to
themselves.
• Keep repellents out of
reach of children, and do
not apply repellent to skin
under clothing.
Additional precautions
regarding applying repel-
lents and eliminating possi-
ble breeding grounds for
summer insects:
• Avoid mosquitoes during their
prime feeding hours of dusk and dawn.
• Read all label directions before using the product and follow
them carefully. Not all repellents are intended to be applied
to the skin.
• Use repellents sparingly. Low concentrations (10% or
below) are effective and may be preferred in most situations.
Start with a low-concentration product and reapply if neces-
sary.
• If repellents are applied over a long period of time, alter-
nate the repellent with one having another active ingredient.
• Once the child is back indoors and/or the repellent is no
longer necessary, wash the treated skin with
soap and water.
• Do not use repellents on broken or irritated skin
or apply to eyes and mouth. Avoid breathing
sprays and do not use near food.
Although reactions to repellents are rare, exposure
to excessive levels of DEET may cause headaches, restless-
ness, crying spells, mania, staggering, rapid breathing, con-
vulsions, and possibly coma. MDARD and the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency are also warning con-
sumers to immediately stop using a repellent if they experi-
ence any of the above symptoms. If the product is
swallowed, consumers should immediately contact a poison
control center or the hospital emergency room.
To determine if a repellent is registered for use in Michi-
gan,
please
check
the
MDARD
website
atwww.michigan.gov/mda.
Consumers reminded to use cau on when
applying insect repellents, especially on children
Eliminating standing water in your yard helps reduce mosquito populations
Although reac ons to repellents are
rare, exposure to excessive levels of
DEET may cause headaches, restless-
ness, crying spells, mania, stagger-
ing, rapid breathing, convulsions,
and possibly coma.
