Marina Day
Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional death among children ages 1 to 14. A child can drown in as little as one inch of water, and drowning is usually quick and considered a silent killer. 51 percent of drownings involving older children (ages 5 to 14) occur in open bodies of water. In 2004, 55 percent of children ages 14 and under who drowned in reported boating accidents were not wearing life jackets, yet it is estimated that 85 percent of boating-related drownings could have been prevented if the victim had been wearing a life jacket.
As the Injury Prevention Center we know that families must be informed about the importance of life jackets and other safety measures around open water in order to safely enjoy water recreation. That was why it was important that we be involved in a fun and informative day to educate local families on boating safety issues for children.
On August 12th we partnered with Mentor Civic Center Waterpark and U.S Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 7-6, Station Fairport, to work with families on learning how to be safe while having fun on the water by participating in various activities in highlighting safe boating practices, such as: putting on a life jacket in the water, righting a capsized canoe, water relay races, and pool kayaking. The kids had fun working with lifeguards and coastguards to learn basic safety rules of the water and left with plenty of water-related incentives and raffle prizes. Local contributors included Eat n’ Park, Hometown Buffet, Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, and the City of Mentor
|
|
