D is for ... DROWNING:
As a family we LOVE the water! Whether it is the beach, river, lake, pool, clam shell or slip and slide. We love anything water related. As kids my brother and I spent every second we could in the water, swimming, skiing, windsurfing, sailing, surfing, the list was endless. We were so very lucky to have the opportunity to do these activities. One thing I want to pass on to my boys is my love for water. I think sometimes I take for granted my ability to swim, it is so second nature. But at some stage I learnt how to do this. One of my top goals as a parent is for my kids to learn how to swim and become confident in the water.
- 41% of drowning occurred in summer
- 77% of those that drowned between July 2010 to June 2011 were male
- 43% of 0-4yr olds drowned in swimming pools
- 37% of all the drownings in the year recorded were aged 55+
So it can happen to anyone, anywhere at anytime where there is enough water to become immersed in. Scary - yes!! Key message - STAY VIGILANT!
Some great advice from Kids Alive is:
- Fence the pool (or spa!)
- Shute the gate
- Teach your kids to swim
- Supervise at all times (this includes bath time)
- Learn to resuscitate
Do you do all of the above? If not, why not?
There has been way too many drownings at the beach already this summer. Please again STAY VIGILANT, make sure the little ones are within arms reach, avoid rips, swim between the flags, respect the ocean! Alcohol and swimming are also not a good mix. This is all common sense but we still see so many cases in the media of drowning and near drowning, it's heart breaking.
What to do?
- Follow DRSABCD
- Remove patient from the water (please do not rescue a drowning victim beyond your swimming ability)
- Beware of possible vomiting, immediately roll patient onto their side to clear the airway
- All patients suffering from near drowning or who have been resuscitated from a drowning event MUST be observed by medical staff
Please enjoy the amazing wonders of water
.... but respect and be aware of its power.
D is also for ..... DRAGONS:
So did you know 2012 is the year of the Dragon? Today celebrates the start of the Chinese New Year so I thought it fitting we learn a little about them. Dragons are very cool legendary creatures. When I think of dragons I think of large lizard like creatures that breathe fire and have bat-like wings. They can be a little scary and some lady dragons even have soft spots for donkeys. :-)
Some things you might not know about dragons:
- the Greek origin of the word dragon is 'to see clearly'
- European dragons more than often have wings
- Chinese dragons resemble large snakes
- they have been said to be wiser than humans and ..
..... have some form of magic or superpower.
We love dragons in our house, they are often hiding under Mums bed, are a cause of lots of giggling and are just a little feared. Whatever your belief of dragons they form an important part in our childrens' imagination and this is something I believe we should treasure and encourage.
~V~
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