• Actively work with legislators to develop policy aimed at reducing the risk of drowning, such as pool/water fencing requirements and laws related to boating, life jacket use, EMS systems and overall water safety.
• Use “non-fatal drowning” — not “near drowning” — to describe drowning incidents that do not result in death and inform parents that “dry drowning” and “secondary drowning” are not medically accurate terms.
• Work with community groups to ensure life jackets are accessible for all people at pools and boating sites.
• Encourage, identify and support “high-quality, culturally sensitive, and affordable” swim lesson programs, particularly for children in low-income, disability or other high-risk groups.“Socioeconomic and cultural disparities in water safety knowledge, swimming skills and drowning risk can be addressed through “community-based programs targeting high-risk groups by providing free or low-cost swim lessons, developing special programs that address cultural concerns as well as swim lessons for youth with developmental disabilities, and changing pool policies to meet the needs of specific communities,” the committee wrote.
The statement did not use external funding, and the authors reported no financial conflicts.
SOURCE: Denny SA et al. Pediatrics.