Kootenai | Kootenai Health | Issue 2, 2019

KH . ORG 21 Here are some of Wendy’s top safety tips for being around water this summer: Children should always wear a life jacket approved by the U.S. Coast Guard. Make sure the life jacket fits snugly. Wendy suggests having the child make a “touchdown” signal by raising both arms straight up. If the life jacket hits the child’s chin or ears, it may be too big or the straps may be too loose. A large portion of boating accidents involve alcohol consumption by both boat operators and passengers. To keep you and your loved ones safe, make it a rule to not drink alcoholic beverages while boating. Infants and young kids are at a higher risk for hypothermia, so if you are taking a baby on a boat, take a few extra precautions to keep your baby warm. If your children seem cold or are shivering, wrap them snugly in a dry blanket or towel. Learning CPR will give you tremendous peace of mind—and the more peace of mind you have as a parent, the better. Many fire departments and recreation departments offer CPR training. Teach children they need to be aware of uneven surfaces, river currents, ocean undertow and changing weather. It’s not the same as swimming in a pool. As summer temperatures hit, children are much more prone to dehydration than adults. Encourage children to take frequent water breaks and remember that dehydration can quickly sneak up on a young child who is intently playing in and around water. Teach children to stay away from water unless accompanied by an adult. Enroll your child in swim lessons. This may save their life one day. Helpful hints Visit KH.org or follow Kootenai Health on Facebook for more health and safety tips. Water is everywhere in the Inland Northwest. Lakes and rivers are some of the area’s most popular destinations and best features, and many residents take to boating, swimming and other water sports as soon as the sun comes out. Even though the weather is changing slowly, there is still plenty of time to get outside and enjoy the sunshine and local lakes and rivers. “We see about one pediatric drowning-related death each year,” said Wendy Ferguson, RN, Kootenai Health injury prevention coordinator. “Even one is too many—and can be prevented.”