Youngsters are outdoors, using up energy, keeping cool, having a great time.
But in the blink of an eye, the ring of a telephone or the turn of a head, the tragedy of a water-related injury or death can occur. But what really makes a difference in injury prevention is attention to safety precautions. Such things as proper fencing and self-closing gates with a latch, pool or door alarms, properly used pool and hot tub covers and most importantly, adults who are watching the children are vital to preventing injury or death. In 1998, TDH's Injury Prevention and Control and the Bureau of Vital Statistics received reports of 726 submersion injuries, including 431 drownings, in both swimming pools and natural bodies of water. Half of all submersions in swimming pools occurred among children less than 5 years old, including 15 deaths, followed by children ages 5 to 9 with 11 deaths.