Researchers assert that a child of four years is not formatted to learn to swim and age appropriate Unknown

Researchers assert that a child of four years is not formatted to learn to swim and age appropriate Unknown

Most children can not resist the temptation to play with water. Since a very young age find them enjoy touching the water and rejoice when petting water feet and often puts children toys in water containers to watch a float but Notwithstanding the foregoing Water is not without risks, there are thousands of children who die each year from drowning Perhaps age groups most at risk of drowning are Children between the age of 1 - 3 years, as well as adolescents male Studies show that for every child die drowning there are 5 children need go to the hospital for treatment of complications that resulted from the period where they remained in the water before rescue them from drowning and these complications may be permanent and include disturbance of memory, learning difficulties, or mental retardation and physical. Most researchers agree that children unprepared in terms of maturity and nervous motor to learn to swim if they are less than four years and although there are many programs to teach swimming to children below the age of four must know parents aware of certainty that studies have shown that the participation of their children in these programs do not mean in any way that they are far away from the risk of drowning, the general rule and fixed to the presence of any child in the water, especially below the age of four calls for a deep with him and close to him can hold it at any moment. And despite the fact that the appropriate age to start learning swimming is not accurately known, most researchers believe that the age of five to six years may be more appropriate given the reach of the nervous system and motor for the child to an appropriate degree to learn swimming skills. Given the factors that increase the risk of child drowning, they are summarized in the following points:

- The lack of oversight and lack of a fence around the pool, if we look at the children below the age of one year, we find most drownings occur in the bathtub or toilet. Children between 1 - 4 years, which leads to drowning in home pools or breathers pools where the disappearance of the child for a period of five minutes from the eyes of his parents or cared enough to exposure of the child drowned.

- Swimming in the sea, which is one of the most dangerous places for teenagers drowned and especially in the case of the waves and wind.

- Boating is not without the risk of drowning, there are hundreds of people who died as a result of a coup boats and especially in the case of not wearing a life jacket.

- Epileptics have higher proportion of drownings in bathtubs home.

Based on what we have said earlier, the best ways to avoid drowning by following prevention guidelines:

@ Put a fence around the pool to a height of not less than 120 cm and can not be displayed spacers between the sections more than 10 cm. In case you can not put the fence can be used pool and sheeting that can be used after the completion of the pool.

@ Must be full-time adult and nicely for swimming and first aid while the child is in the pool and the intent of full-time that this person does not concern him only baby monitor.

@ Do not leave any float on the pool games are attractive for the child to go and when swimming games should not be used in helping the child to swim where there are special equipment for this purpose.

@ Teaching children not to defend and play aggressively when swimming and not to jump from high places for fear of collision at the base of the pool as well as the lack of running in wet places surrounding the pool.

@ Do not leave children below the age of five in the bathtub alone, as well as get rid of the remaining water in the bathtub.

@ Must provide a tight lid of the toilet and close the bathroom door, especially in the presence of children at the age of one year or less.

In conclusion, we must all work to help our children to enjoy swimming and water games, but away from the dangers.

Dr. Sami Hussein Hajjar
Consultant pediatric