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La prevención de ahogamientos comienza con darse cuenta de que le puede pasar a cualquiera.
Thinking it can't happen is one reason it does.
It can strike any family. Even yours.
Drowning doesn't care if its victim knew how to swim or came from a loving family. It doesn't discriminate between race, gender or how much money is in the bank. It doesn't even care if other people are watching.
All it needs is a few seconds, and lives are changed forever.
#1
Drowing is the leading cause of accidental death of children
88
88% occur with supervision present
20
A child can drown in as little as 20 seconds
23
23% occur during family gatherings
58
58% of victims knew how to swim
But you can prevent it.
Drowning is preventable if you and your family are dedicated to being safe while swimming or near water. This is particularly true for pool owners who have an inherent responsibility to provide a safe environment.
It all starts by reading the water safety guidelines below and always following them.
Each is an important "layer of protection" that when combined together greatly reduce the risk of drowning. Adhere to each one because you won't know which one could save someone's life– until it does.
The 5 Layers of Protection.
1
Stay Close, Be Alert and Watch.
WATER WATCHERS. Always watch your children and never leave them unattended. Designate responsible adults to be "Water Watchers", instructing them take turns with others to avoid fatigue.
Install Physical Barriers.
2
FENCING. Install "Isolation Fencing" to provide a barrier between your home and your pool or natural water. It restricts unauthorized access from neighbors’ yards, other nearby buildings, as well as from inside the house where small children may be.
LATCHES & LOCKS. Latches should always be out of the reach of young children, so it's recommended to install them at least 54 inches from the ground.
All doors leading to your pool should be equipped with a self-closing, self-latching device with a release mechanism installed no lower than 54 inches above the floor.
POOL & SPA SAFETY COVERS. It is recommended that covers that meet the ASTM International voluntary standard F1346-91 be used.
3
Use Alarms.
DOOR & WINDOW ALARMS. This includes doors and windows in the house, and gate alarms to notify you should any of these be opened without your knowledge.
PERIMETER ALARMS. These alarms use lasers (similar to garage door openers) or video cameras to alert if a person enters the area surrounding or nearby a pool.
POOL ALARMS. These alarms alert when an object enters the water. Although typically inexpensive, these types of alarms tend to generate a high rate of false alarms due to wind and rain.
IMMERSION ALARMS. Worn on the body, these devices will set off an alarm if the wearer enters the water.
DROWNING DETECTION ALARMS. Advances in technology have enable these devices to determine if a swimmer is at risk of drowning. Some are video-based and use artificial intelligence software to detect a potential victim or if a non-swimmer has entered the water.
Others technologies use lightweight devices worn by swimmers and non-swimmers. These systems time how long a swimmer's face is submerged and alert should the swimmer be at risk, or if a non-swimmer has entered the water.
4
Get Swimming Lessons.
Simply put, everyone should learn how to swim. With the right instruction, children (and adults) can gain the competence, confidence and the respect for water they need to create a life-long love for the water.
Be Prepared For Emergencies.
5
• Always have a telephone nearby.
• Learn CPR
• Have rescue equipment nearby. This should include a shepherd's hook, a life-saving ring, and posted CPR instructions.
•Take water safety courses. Pool owners and operators should enroll in a local water safety course that teaches proper rescue techniques.
Be Prepared For Emergencies.
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