To the editor: Thanks for the latest article elevating consciousness about stopping childhood drowning and the necessity for stronger prevention methods (“A baby can drown in seconds. Medical doctors need extra households to be ready,” July 4). A quick lapse in supervision ought to by no means end result within the demise of a kid.
For youngsters ages 1 to 4, two interventions needs to be thought of important supervision instruments. First, each residential pool the place a younger youngster lives or visits needs to be protected by a professionally put in four-sided isolation fence with a self-closing, self-latching gate, assembly the Shopper Product Security Fee tips. Second, younger youngsters and unskilled swimmers ought to put on a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket each time they’re in or round any physique of water.
California has made progress: Meeting Invoice 2146, which took impact this yr, prohibits the sale and distribution of non-U.S. Coast Guard-approved flotation units. However California regulation nonetheless doesn’t require four-sided isolation fencing, regardless of robust proof that it prevents drownings (it’s only an choice for residential swimming pools).
Irvine’s Floatie Change Program, launched beneath former Mayor Larry Agran (my husband), affords one other mannequin by encouraging households to exchange unsafe floaties with Coast Guard-approved life jackets.
Requiring isolation fencing statewide and increasing packages akin to Irvine’s would save younger lives.
Phyllis Agran, Irvine
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To the editor: The article elevating consciousness about stopping childhood drowning covers crucial interventions that may stop tragedies. Nevertheless it fails to handle the water-safety wants of kids with disabilities.
An Australian examine discovered that youngsters with autistic spectrum issues drown at 3 times the speed of their friends with out such issues. These youngsters could also be drawn to water in swimming pools or in water retention areas after a storm and their tendency to wander locations them at explicit danger.
Swim classes tailor-made to youngsters with autism may help construct abilities and consciousness of water security. Mother and father of Southern California Regional Middle purchasers ought to communicate to their client companies coordinators about state funding which will make such swimming classes free for his or her youngster.
Marc Lerner, Irvine
