Girl, 3, drowns – What every parent needs to know
"Never leave children unsupervised near water" – Netcare 911 after 3-year-old drowns.
After the tragic death and drowning of a 3-year-old girl at a house in Johannesburg recently, Netcare 911 would like to advise all childminders and parents to never leave children unsupervised near water.
According to Athlenda Mathe, Netcare 911 spokesperson, paramedics responded to a drowning at a house in the area just after 4pm.
“When paramedics arrived on scene, we found that a three year old girl had drowned. A Netcare911 Advanced Life Support Paramedic assessed the child and found no signs of life. Sadly, there was nothing that could be done for the child. She was declared dead on scene.”
How to avoid drownings …
Inside your home
• Never leave small children alone in the bath. Ignore the phone and door bell or take the child along.
• Use a non-slip mat in the bath.
• Empty baths, tubs and other containers after use or, when full, keep behind locked doors.
• Never use a bathtub seat or supporting ring without constant adult supervision. The seat can overturn or a baby can slip out into the water.
• Install a toilet lid locking device and keep bathroom doors closed at all times (or you may want to install a door knob cover).
Outdoors
• Children should learn how to swim as soon as possible. It is equally important for them to be trained in survival skills such as floating and treading water. But even then, constant supervision is always necessary. A child should never swim alone. Remember buoyancy aids such as inflatable wings, tubes etc. are only aids. Don’t rely solely on their protection.
• Warn against boisterous play in or near water. A dam wall or an area surrounding a swimming pool is no place to ride a bicycle.
• Children should practice coping in water with their clothes on.
Around the pool
• The gate should have a self-latching mechanism.
• Do not prop open the pool gate.
• Use safety covers for pools not in use
• Never leave a child unattended near a pool.
• Do not use flotation toys as life preservers.
• Never assume your child is drown-proof even if they can swim.
• Remove toys from the pool when kids are finished swimming to prevent them from trying to recover them when unsupervised.
• Empty out all water from a wading pool when you are finished using it.
• Remove any ladders from an above ground pool when not in use.
• If you leave your child with a babysitter make sure she/he knows your rules for the pool.
Important Emergency Numbers to remember are Netcare 911: 082 911 or the police: 1011.
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at randfonteinherald@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 693 3671.
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