Water Safety Program Background

 

Drowning deaths and near drowning injuries remain a serious, but preventable health issue among children 1-14 years in Harris County.  Between January and August 2007 there have been 8 deaths in Harris County among children under 5 years old.  For every drowning death an estimated four are hospitalized for drowning-related injuries.  In 2004,  in an effort to reduce the number of deaths and near-drowning injuries, HCPHES began providing water safety education for children and families.  Since this program began, we have trained over 100 community members, who have organized and conducted 300 water safety events reaching over 3000 children and families in Harris County.  

 HCPHES Water Safety program intervention initiatives are aimed at reducing drowning deaths and submersion injuries through behavioral strategies, such as active adult supervision of children while around water, use of personal floatation devices (PFD) and other water safety practices. Additionally the program addresses environmental strategies, such as fences around pools and use of pool safety equipment.

 The program focuses efforts mainly on apartment/community pools, however residential pool owners, and other populations participate through seminar events held by partner organizations- YMCA summer school programs, Libraries, County/City clinics, and health fairs.  In addition, various education and outreach  activities help further promote public awareness, such as April Pool’s Day events, the issuing of news articles and press conferences and dissemination of bookmarks.