The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal and
Illinois Department of Children and Family Services remind caregivers to
supervise children during water activities
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[August 10, 2020]
As temperatures continue to rise, many
Illinoisans are looking for ways to cool off. While many pools and
beaches are closed this year due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,
home pools, either permeant or pop-up, are still in use. |
If families plan to visit a beach that is open or
invite a few friends over to swim, it’s critical that parents stay
vigilant and actively supervise all children when they are in or
near water to prevent the tragedy of a child drowning.
In 2019, 22 Illinois children under the age of 18 lost their lives
due to accidental drowning: 10 in pools; five in bathtubs; one in a
bucket; three in ponds; and three in lakes. Six of the children who
drowned in pools were age five and younger. Drowning is the leading
cause of unintentional death for children ages one to four and
second leading cause of unintentional death for children ages five
to 15 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC).
“Children are quick and curious – and naturally drawn to water,”
said Illinois DCFS Acting Director Marc D. Smith. “A child can drown
in seconds, in silence, and in as little as one inch of water. Never
leave children alone – even for a minute to answer a text or the
doorbell. Turning your back for a moment can change your life
forever. “
According to the American Red Cross, 69% of young children who are
found drowned or submerged in swimming pools were not expected to be
in or near the pool. On average, 379 fatal child drownings occurred
per year between 2015 and 2017. Children younger than five years old
accounted for 75% of these drownings, 56% of which were attributed
to a lapse in adult supervision. Of the reported fatal drowning
incidents, 71% occurred in residential locations, such as a child’s
home, a family or friend’s house or a neighbor’s residence according
to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
“As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic many people have chosen to
install pools or purchase a pop-up pool for their yards this summer.
Installing a pool requires a need for parents to keep a closer eye
on their children. It is also essential to take the proper steps to
keep the pool secured and restrict access to prevent injuries and
drownings from occurring,” said Illinois State Fire Marshal Matt
Perez.
The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal and the Illinois
Department of Children and Family Services urge everyone to follow
these safety tips to help protect children from water-related
tragedy:
Bathrooms
• Never leave a young child alone in a bathtub or rely on a bathtub
seat for safety.
• Secure the toilet lid. Curious toddlers could tip headfirst into a
toilet, risking drowning.
• Don’t allow children to play alone in the bathroom.
Buckets
• Five-gallon buckets commonly used for household home-improvement
projects pose a threat to babies and toddlers who may topple into
them and be unable to get out.
• Empty and store all buckets out of children’s reach when not in
use. [to top of second
column] |
Portable or Inflatable pools
• Don’t be lulled into a false sense of security because of the shallowness of
baby pools. A child can drown in as little as one inch of water.
• Empty the pool right after use and store it upside-down.
Swimming pools and hot tubs
• Keep ladders, patio furniture and toys away from above-ground pools. Toddlers
are better climbers than you think.
• Install a four-sided fence with a self-closing, self-latching gate around all
pools and spas. Always check to make sure the gate is locked or closed when
leaving the pool or spa.
• Keep the pool and deck clear of floats, balls and toys after you leave the
pool.
• Young children should wear personal flotation devices, but they do not replace
adult supervision.
• Keep hot tubs securely covered when not in use. Children should not be left in
a hot tub alone.
• Appoint an adult who can swim to watch children at all times when they are in
the pool.
• Learn CPR and keep rescue equipment, a phone and emergency numbers by the
pool. The American Red Cross offers online CPR training classes anyone can take
at their own pace from the convenience of home.
Ponds, fountains and retention ponds
• Be aware of access to water hazards in your yard and neighborhood. If a child
goes missing, check these areas first.
For more information and water safety resources, including posters, brochures
and a coloring book for children, visit the DCFS website at www2.illinois.gov/
DCFS and click on Safe Kids > Health and Safety Tips for Children > Water
Safety.
About the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS)
Founded in 1964, DCFS is responsible for protecting children from abuse or
neglect by responding to calls received on the Child Abuse Hotline,
1-800-25-ABUSE (1-800-252-2873). With the goal of keeping children safe, DCFS
strengthens and supports families with a wide range of services. When keeping a
child safe means removing them from the home, DCFS makes every effort to reunite
them with their family. When the best interest of the child makes this
impossible, DCFS is committed to pursuing adoption by loving families to provide
children with a safe and permanent home. DCFS is also responsible for licensing
and monitoring of all Illinois child welfare agencies.
[Illinois Office of Communication and
Information] |