Engineer/Paramedic Schulz – Classes all parents should take

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This series of articles looked at statistical information about drowning incidents, the ABCs of Water Safety and now looks ahead to additional measures for preventing this type of tragic event from occurring.

Regretfully our community suffered a drowning event this past weekend. I cannot imagine what this family must be feeling, but I feel confident in saying that our hearts go out to them during such a traumatic time.

Classes such as CPR, first aid, and swimming lessons should be considered for all parents and expectant parents. Many of these classes are available through the City’s Parks and Recreation Department, the fire department and community colleges.

Some of these classes may have enrollment costs, but the knowledge and confidence gained is invaluable. The classes listed are just recommendations that would provide valuable information and pre-arrival care that a lay person could utilize before the fire department or EMS provider arrives.

CPR, cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, is a process of circulating oxygen rich blood to the heart and brain during cardiac arrests, as well as in respiratory arrests. Many lay persons are afraid of this type of intervention due to the fear of injuring the victim or becoming contaminated during the mouth-to-mouth portion of the resuscitation process.

Accidental injuries, including choking and drowning, are the leading cause of death in children – and send over 16 million kids a year to the emergency room. CPR saves lives. Statistics show that the earlier CPR is initiated, the greater the chances of survival. In fact, the American Heart Association estimates that 100,000 to 200,000 lives of both adults and children could be saved each year if CPR were performed early enough.

First aid classes will give individuals the knowledge and ability to recognize and care for various types of emergencies until paramedics arrive. Bleeding, punctures, broken bones, cuts and scrapes are everyday emergencies that may be encountered, but, with the right training, they are easy to handle. Most first aid classes can be combined with CPR to minimize time in class.

Since the focus of this series is water safety and drowning prevention, swimming lessons should be included. Swimming lessons are not save-all measures but a way to help a child learn the techniques necessary for survival in the event of a water incident. Swimming lessons build confidence and self esteem as students progress in their training. Private swim lessons are often available. Facilities such as YMCAs and some gyms that have pools offer swimming lessons as well.

I hope that everyone reading these articles has learned something and taken the information and ideas seriously. Drowning incidents are one of the most tragic events a family can experience; each event impacts many people either directly or indirectly.

Please keep an eye on your children around any water source, place multiple barriers between your children and any water source and get involved in the safety and education of your family through CPR, first aid and swimming classes.

Last, but not least, remember: Water Safety…is a family affair!

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