(MENAFN- The Peninsula) The Peninsula
Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) is reminding families and caregivers to pay attention to their children's safety around water, as drowning is a leading cause of death and serious disability in children in Qatar. It is advising to be cautious when children are near swimming pools, the sea, and other sources of water, including those at home.
'The simplest answer to ensuring that children are safe around water is proper and constant supervision. You will not be aware that a child is in trouble unless you are watching them. Remember that children can drown in silence as they may not shout for help like an adult would, said Dr Khalid Abdulnoor Saifeldeen (pictured), Kulluna for Health and Safety Campaign Chairman. Kulluna is the brainchild of HMC's Hamad International Training Center (HITC).
According to Dr Saifeldeen, the number of child deaths from drowning is rising annually. Ninety percent of cases of drowning involve children aged 10 years or younger, with 70 percent of victims being younger than four years old. 'Drowning incidents in Qatar occur mainly at home, in private swimming pools and bathtubs. There are also some incidents of drowning in the sea, he said.
'Almost all the drowning incidents in swimming pools in Qatar happen when the parent or caregiver is not present. Don't leave children on their own around or in water, even if they can swim or are wearing a lifejacket, he said.
Dr Saifeldeen insisted that supervision means being able to see and hear a child and being able to reach them very quickly, noting that a drowning can take seconds to happen and can occur in silence.
According to Dr Saifeldeen, some parents and care providers don't recognise the risks of drowning, or near drowning, often mistakenly believing that, children will follow instructions and stay away from water hazards, a child can safely be left unattended for short periods of time — or that a lifejacket or other flotation device will prevent a drowning, there are adequate safety measures already in place and younger children can play safely in the care of older children.
Dr Saifeldeen says the most practical strategy for drowning prevention is taking steps to keep children safe in and around water, including, ensuring constant supervision and preventing unsupervised access to sources of water, teaching children how to swim and ensuring that young children and those who are inexperienced or weak swimmers wear lifejackets or a personal flotation aids when in or near water, setting clear rules for family members when near water and enforcing them and learning to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
Unintentional access to sources of water can be prevented by installing a security gate or another barrier. It is important to note that such barriers should be checked on a regular basis to ensure they are working properly and are appropriate as a child grows in height and dexterity. It is also important to think beyond the obvious sources of water.
'Always keep the door to bathrooms closed and drain pools, baths, and buckets immediately after use. About 70 to 80 percent of drowning cases happen when the child is not supposed to be in the water, he said, stressing that barriers alone are not enough and direct supervision is essential. He also said learning CPR can be very useful as the first few minutes following an accident in water are critical. Kulluna offers free CPR training, and anyone interested can send a message through the website www.kulluna.qa.
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