#1 Child Killer Identified

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#1 Child Killer Identified

Shallow Water Blackout (SWB) is identified as the #1 root-cause of accidental child fatalities of all kinds and yet most people have never even heard of it according to Pool and Water Safety Expert Ken Walker’s newly published, free E-book ‘The Pool Safety Bible’.  In simple terms Shallow Water Blackout is when a swimmer suddenly loses consciousness underwater.  No exact figures are available but some official sources in the US attribute over 50% of all drowning accidents to SWB, which makes it the single most common cause of accidental death among children world wide.  Drowning is the #3 cause of accidental death among children aged 0-14 years in the US and the #1 cause in countries and states where there are higher than average numbers of pools.

284 people drowned in Australia between 1 July 2011 and 30 June 2012 and an average of 111 people drown in New Zealand annually. According to information released by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) ‘Pool Safely’ campaign; ‘An average of 390 children aged 0-14  die in pool and spa drownings each year in the USA. About 5,200 more are treated in Emergency Rooms.’  Some of those 5,200 children suffer permanent damage, ranging from partial disability to total brain death; with the victim needing lifelong 24/7 care.

Swimming ability is no protection against Shallow Water Blackout. It can and does happen to the most experienced of swimmers, even professional swimmers, regardless of their health or age, both in pools and in open water. SWB can be caused by taking several deep breaths (hyperventilating) before swimming a length underwater or 'trying to beat-your-own-record’ for breath-holding whilst  underwater.

Hyperventilation artificially lowers the body's carbon dioxide (CO²) levels. SWB occurs when low levels of CO² in the body, combined with low levels of oxygen, cause a swimmer to faint.  If the casualty is not rescued immediately they will drown within a couple of minutes.

When the body levels of CO² are artificially low the 'BREATHE NOW' reflex is suppressed and unconsciousness occurs instantly when the swimmer's oxygen level falls below a certain threshold. SWB can occur without warning, to any swimmer, regardless of their age, ability or level of experience. Many victims are strong, fit swimmers who have not previously experienced this problem. Everyone who uses a pool, especially kids, should be informed about the dangers of hyperventilation.  Hyperventilation, breath-holding or seeing who can swim furthest underwater must be strongly discouraged.

There really is no better way to cool  off, relax, have fun and get some exercise than by swimming, but the huge number of pool deaths and other non-fatal accidents demonstrates that planning ahead is vitally important.  Many parents don’t consider drowning to be a realistic threat to the lives of their children.  The following few words might change their minds: - “A swimming pool is 14 times more likely than a motor vehicle to be involved in the death of a child age 4 and under”.  (Orange County Fire Authority, California)

Thousands of people who use pools suffer non-fatal accidents; falls, cuts and scrapes, broken bones, infections, diving injuries, chemical burns or electrocution. Fifty different Safety subjects, and what you can do to protect yourself and family, are covered in The Pool Safety Bible which was published to coincide with the anti-drowning initiatives sponsored by various Government Agencies. It is intended to empower parents, carers and guardians and to attack drowning statistics at the grass-roots. The E-book is freely available for all platforms including laptops, PCs, tablets, mobiles and eReaders.

Walker says, “Planning ahead is an essential part of Pool Safety. Most accidents around water are predictable and, therefore, preventable to a degree - all it takes is some education and some forward planning. That’s why I’m gifting this EBook to all who want it.  Many people are pool-owners nowadays and lots of those that don't have their own pools probably swim in a public or private pool from time to time, or they may live near open water such as a canal, the ocean, a river, garden pond or lake. Any child could drown in a bathtub but could every parent administer Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation? Now anyone can learn CPR for free, online, from links within the E-book. The Pool Safety Bible can help everyone to protect their family and to save lives in an Emergency.”

“Three-quarters of drowning victims are missing for under 5 minutes,” says Walker, “and were not seen near the water before the accident. Every child drowning is an avoidable family tragedy.  The aftermath of a death in a backyard pool is also traumatic; 62% of parents whose child has drowned in a private pool end their relationships in acrimonious divorce, due partly to ‘blame and guilt’ issues, and over four out of five families feel they have to move home after a death in their backyard pool.  Plan ahead to be safe.”

Stuffed with tips, information and ideas on how to make a pool the safest place it can possibly be without actually filling it with concrete, The Pool Safety Bible contains vital SWB and other Safety information, links to CPR videos, ideas on how to raise the money for a Pool Fence or other Safety Equipment when you're flat broke, what to check around the resort or villa pool when on vacation, safety advice for babysitters, what to do in an Emergency and lots more.  

The Pool Safety Bible can be downloaded free from www.smashwords.com or for a few cents from www.amazon.com for Kindle.

ENDS

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