‘PARTNERING WITH THE NDPA’
By Emily Wujcik Drowning Doesn’t Look Like Drowning: NDPA Draws Attention to a Major Issue
In the middle of the heat of the summer, water safety should remain one of the top concerns for you and your clients. Water safety can be a difficult subject, especially when parents and caregivers think they know what to look for. Drowning is the single leading cause of death for children 1-4 and the second leading cause of injury death for children 5-14. The CDC reports that for everyone fatal childhood drowning, another 7 or 8 are seen at an emergency department for non-fatal submersion injuries. 70% of toddler drownings are happening during non-swimtimes when a child isn’t expected to be near the water.
According to NDPA, 88% of child drownings occur with at least one adult present, and 50% of children drown within 25 yards of a parent or other adult. These drownings happen quickly and quietly, so NDPA has collaborated with advertising agency Doner, to create and publish a public service campaign entitled Drowning Doesn’t Look Like Drowning. The purpose of the campaign is to shatter common drowning myths and direct parents and caregivers on where to find more information and resources.
The chilling :30 second PSA entitled “Drowning Doesn’t Look Like Drowning”, shows how easily the real signs of child drowning can go unnoticed even when adults are in the vicinity. The PSA closes with the message – no splashing, no waving, no yelling, learn the signs at DrowningDoesntLookLikeDrowning. com. Sharing this PSA and message with your clients can help raise awareness of the issue of drowning and help us to decrease the number of drownings each year.
“Child drowning is a preventable problem, yet an increasing one. And education needs to be done around drowning prevention because so often it happens while parents are close and unaware. Our mission with this PSA is to reach millions of parents with the hope of saving lives this summer.” said Colin Jeffery, CCO of Doner. This PSA is also made available to media organizations and publications for distribution. Be a part of sharing this message to help save lives.
Adam Katchmarchi, Executive Director of NDPA adds, “While the majority of drownings are accidental, the good news is that drowning can be prevented if parents and caregivers learn how to recognize drownings during both swim and non-swim times and familiarize themselves with and put into the practice the five layers of protection.” According to NDPA, parents and caregivers need to remain equally vigilant after the pool party is over. Their beautiful pool that you’ve put in and help to care for, can and should be a place of fun, laughter, and good memories. Help us keep it that way. NDPA recommends using the 5 layers of protection – barriers and alarms, supervision, water competency, the proper use of life jackets, and emergency preparation.
By adopting and practicing NDPA’s Five Layers of Protection when enjoying a backyard pool, while on vacation, or when a child is exposed to open water, you have shared with pool owners that they have the power to prevent drowning.
