When it comes to safety, most parents do not know that drowning is one of the top two causes of accidental death among children. National Safe Kids Week activities and communications will educate parents and children about the steps they can take to help prevent pool and spa injuries and deaths and highlight new proposed legislation in this area.
There will be a special focus about preventing entrapment, which is a little known risk that has killed at least 33 children and injured almost 100 children between 1985 and 2004.
National Safe Kids Week, May 6-13, will highlight the importance of pool and spa safety through the theme “Safe Pools for Safe Kids.” A national press conference involving Safe Kids Worldwide, Founding Sponsor Johnson & Johnson, James A. Baker, III, Secretary of State under former President George Bush, daughter-in-law Nancy Baker and U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) will kick off the week on May 2 in Washington.
In addition, local Safe Kids coalitions around the country will host interactive events to teach parents and children about safe behavior around pools and spas such as actively supervising children around water and installing safety devices in and around pools and spas.
Safe Kids has also created checklists about how to practice safe behaviors around the water and teach your kids to do the same. You can download these from their Web site at: http://www.usa.safekids.org/tier3_cd.cfm?content_item_id=22032&folder_id=3125