Water-related accidents, like drowning, remain a significant concern for parents and caregivers. As we strive to keep our children safe, it is essential to include our pediatricians in the conversation about water safety. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and NDPA have valuable resources for parents, caregivers, and pediatricians. We want to work together to make water safety a priority.
AAP’s Commitment to Drowning Prevention and Water Safety for Parents
The American Academy of Pediatrics, a renowned authority in pediatric healthcare, has long been at the forefront of child safety efforts, including drowning prevention. Their dedication to protecting children is evident in their latest report on the prevention of drowning. Working together with your pediatrician is important because according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more children ages 1-4 die from drowning than any other cause of death.
In AAP’s report on drowning prevention, they share the 5 evidence-based strategies: Barrier, Supervision, Swim Lessons, Life Jackets, and CPR. These evidence-based strategies are similarly shared with NDPA’s layers of protection. It is important to keep in mind that these strategies help to keep everyone safer, but remember, no one is drown-proof.
AAP has shared a drowning prevention toolkit that is available online. This toolkit includes social media graphics, printable posters, videos, and information for parents. All of which are available for you to view. Some can be downloaded and shared in both English and Spanish. These are great resources to use and can help you spread the word on how to be safer in and around the water.
NDPA Toolkit and Resources
NDPA has shared multiple toolkits. One of which is the Pediatrician Toolkit. This toolkit will be introduced at AAP National Conference & Exhibition in Washington, DC this October. You can come see us at booth 1940. This toolkit will be available on the NDPA website and available for everyone to download for free and it equips pediatricians with the tools and information necessary to engage with parents and caregivers on this critical topic. This update ensures that pediatricians have access to the most current and relevant information on drowning prevention, making them even more effective advocates for water safety. This toolkit can also be used as water safety for parents too.
There are more resources available from NDPA such as our Physician Resources. Here, you can find more information like a blog post on how to create a water safety plan for family vacations. If you’re planning a family trip in the future, this is a great resource to use and you can talk with your pediatrician about the best ways to keep you and your family safe.
Working Together
Pediatricians are trusted healthcare professionals with a wealth of knowledge about child safety and development. Their guidance on water safety is invaluable and they can provide you with personalized recommendations based on your child’s age, developmental stage, and any specific health considerations. By engaging in conversations about water safety, it encourages proactive actions to protect your child from drowning accidents.
We know that Pediatricians have many important topics to talk about, and we want to work together to make sure that conversations about water safety are happening. With a variety of resources available for everyone, we encourage you to continue to have these conversations. Together, we can make a difference and help to keep families and communities safe. Pediatricians are a known and trusted resource for child safety, and this extends to water safety.
