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Thursday, June 1, 2017

Summer is a great time to enjoy indoor and outdoor activities but every summer, children in our community die or are injured from drowning. For adults and children alike, additional risks include heat-related illnesses, diseases from bug bites and injuries from falls.

Drowning is a leading cause of unintentional death in children ages 1 to 4, and the fifth leading cause of unintentional injury death for people of all ages. From 2012-2016 Contra Costa saw 31 drowning deaths in adults and children.

"It's important that people remember to be safe and healthy this summer," said Dr. Thomas Warne, Deputy Health Officer for Contra Costa Health Services. "Drowning deaths are devastating enough but near drowning can also have serious consequences including neurological damage."

Whether you pull an unconscious person from the water or if someone collapses and is not responding or breathing calling 911 should be your first action. For drowning victims, reviving a person involves mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Knowing how to safely perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation is important for anyone spending time in and around water.

When a person does not have a pulse, Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) can help provide victims the extra time needed to survive until an emergency vehicle arrives.

"Providing CPR can double or maybe even triple a person's chance of surviving." said Warne. "Hands-only CPR is an easy and effective way for bystanders to help save lives."

Contra Costa Health Services Emergency Medical Services division offers resources and training around Hands-Only CPR training. Go to cchealth.org/ems/cpr.php for more information.

To avoid summer injuries and illness, following simple Summer Safety Tips can make this time of year memorable for summer fun and not for a trip to hospital.

See page 2 for Summer Safety tips and these links for more information.

• Drowning Prevention: CDC at www.cdc.gov/safechild/drowning
• CPR & First Aid: American Heart Association at www.cpr.heart.org
• Fall Prevention: National Council on Aging at www.ncoa.org/healthy-aging/falls-prevention
• Extreme Heat: CDC at www.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat
• Mosquito Bites: CDC at www.cdc.gov/features/stopmosquitoes
• Preventing Tick Bites: CDC at www.cdc.gov/lyme/prev

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