Children Are Not Waterproof! Protect Your Most Precious Asset! August 24, 2007 - The Houston Police Department along with the Houston Fire Department, Safe Kids, Child Protective Services, Greater Houston Water Safety Team, Houston/Harris County Child Fatality Review Team, the City of Houston Health Department, the Greater Houston Area YMCA and Texas Children's Hospital, among others, have teamed up this summer with one main goal in mind: to reduce child drowning deaths by educating the community. According to the Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office, child drowning deaths account for nearly half of all child fatalities each year in our area. Fortunately, these are preventable deaths. For each child that dies in area waters, several more are treated at our world-renowned medical center. Many survive, often with impairment due to complications from lack of oxygen during the drowning event. So far this year, 18 children from the greater Houston area have died as the result of drowning accidents. This number grows as the many children who come to area hospitals and check out as “near-drowning victims” are included. The common denominator in all these events is the lack of immediate supervision. With the end of the summer coming to an end and the Labor Day weekend approaching, the most important thing in your water safety TO DO list should be: · Watch the kids In the event parents cannot be with their children, they must ensure the appropriate care-giver is chosen to make decisions on what your children can and cannot do. Their ability to protect and watch your children can make the difference between life and death. Also, teach your children to seek help when a drowning incident occurs and practice what they should do in case of emergencies. Their ability to get help fast could save a life. For additional information, please contact the HPD Public Affairs Division at (713) 308-3200 or Harris County Public Health & Environmental Services (HCPHES) Water Safety Program at (713) 439-6230 www.houstonredcross.org or www.safekids.org or www.ymcahouston.org JGA/VHS 8-24-07 For additional information, please contact the HPD Public Affairs Division at 713-308-3200. |