Family

ALBANY, N.Y. — Drowning is one of the leading causes of death among children ages 1 to 4, in part because it can happen so quickly, said American College of Emergency Physicians President Dr. Linda L. Lawrence.

Lawrence cited a new report from the Consumer Product and Safety Commission which found that the annual number of drowning deaths involving children under age 5 had increased to 283 for 2003-05, up from 267 in 2002-2004. Most of these deaths and injuries occur in homes and yards, and involve children younger than age 2, according to the report.

Although drowning occurs most often among small children and people who can't swim, strong swimmers are also vulnerable in certain weather conditions, water currents and other circumstances, including pre-existing health problems, Lawrence said.

The recent drowning death of a 14-year-old boy in a 600-foot wide section of the Hudson River in upstate New York is a reminder of the possible dangers associated with summer water activities.

• Check with lifeguards about surf and beach conditions before going in the water.

• Make sure children swim or surf only in designated areas.

• Obey warning signs regarding dangerous swimming areas.

• Don't overestimate you or your child's swimming ability, especially in bodies of water that may have dangerous currents or riptides.

• Never depend on flotation devices for your child's safety.

• Encourage your children to avoid cliff edges, stay behind fences and obey warning signs.

The emergency physicians group also has the following advice about what to do if someone is drowning:

• If a person appears to be drowning (flailing in the water, yelling for help, coughing or going under, or appears to be unconscious or floating in the water), check the area, alert a lifeguard if one is nearby, then call 911 or your local emergency number.

• Do not attempt to rescue a drowning person while in the water yourself unless you are trained to do so and have lifesaving equipment. People who are drowning may panic and pull you under water with them; dangerous circumstances — such as strong currents or rip tides — may also endanger you.

• If possible, reach out with or throw an object that floats to the person from a secure out-of-water position, such as a boat, a swimming pool ladder or a dock.

• For a person pulled from the water, tilt the head back, lift the chin and check for breathing and other signs of life. Expel fluid or other objects from the mouth.

• If the person is not breathing, give two slow rescue breaths. If rescue breaths go in, give cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). If rescue breaths do not go in, reposition the airway and reattempt.

• Continue uninterrupted CPR until advanced life support is available.

Following are swimming safety tips provided by the American College of Emergency Physicians in Washington, D.C., a national medical specialty society representing emergency medicine with more than 26,000 members.

• Never leave babies or young children unattended near tubs, pools or buckets of water — even for a few seconds.

• Teach your children to swim.

• Never allow children to swim alone or without adult supervision. They should only swim in places that are supervised, and preferably with a lifeguard on duty.

• Install safety fences with child-proof latches around swimming pools.

• Remind children never to dive into unfamiliar water.

• Never drink alcohol and swim.