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IMPORTANT: Childhood Drowning Risk in Stored Water

Drowning is a major cause of childhood injury and a top killer of young children in South Africa… as was tragically highlighted this week by the death of 20-month-old Cape Town toddler, Connor Weber, who drowned when he fell into a bin that had been used to collect water during the current drought in the […]

By SAPeople Contributor
14-12-17 22:25
in Eish!

Drowning is a major cause of childhood injury and a top killer of young children in South Africa… as was tragically highlighted this week by the death of 20-month-old Cape Town toddler, Connor Weber, who drowned when he fell into a bin that had been used to collect water during the current drought in the Western Cape. He, and his sister, were in the care of their nanny at the time. His heart was still beating when his nanny found him, but Connor sadly passed away after a few days in the Red Cross Children’s War Memorial Hospital. In response to yesterday’s article on SAPeople, ChildSafe has kindly written this important Press Release to please share:

ChildSafe Guide on How to Store Water

Within 30 seconds a small child can drown without a sound in 4cm of water.

Due to the drought many people have taken to storing water in unusual containers including mobile dustbins.

A recent study performed at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital indicates that most drowning incidents involve very young children (average age 2 years) and occur in and around the home.

In over 80 percent of cases, there was no-one watching the child.

All caregivers and parents should be aware of the dangers of drowning in the home environment.

Wherever there is a body of stored water, in bins, buckets or any other open containers, children should never be left alone and parents should be made aware of the dangers.

Cover all water filled containers or buckets.

Every caregiver should have a basic knowledge of Cardiac Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for in cases of emergency.

While children of all language groups are at risk for drowning, Xhosa-speaking children are the most vulnerable for this type of drowning.

You’re bigger: be the adult!

  • Free water safety leaflets available from CHILDSAFE, Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital.
  • Write to CHILDSAFE, PO BOX 791, Rondebosch, 7701
  • Tel: 021 685 5208
  • Email: capfsa@pgwc.gov.za
  • Website: www.childsafe.org.za

MORE

Cape Town toddler tragically drowns in bin collecting water during Western Cape drought.

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