Parents, Child Care Providers Must Remain Vigilant, Know Children’s Whereabouts
With several schools systems closed following flooding in the state, the Tennessee Department of Health issues an urgent call to parents and adults providing care to keep kids and teenagers from flood waters as well as rivers, lakes and creeks that have higher than normal water levels and strong currents.
“It’s important that parents and adults responsible for children and teens don’t let down their guard as flood waters start to recede. They should know where kids are at all times and make sure they are not in danger,” said State Health Commissioner Susan R. Cooper, MSN, RN. “The water presents a huge temptation to kids from elementary to high school age, especially as temperatures rise. This is a matter of urgency and can mean the difference between life and death.”
Flood waters not only present health risks due to the potential for contamination, but currents in flood ravaged areas have been particularly strong, proving challenging for even the most skilled water rescue personnel. Additionally, experienced swimmers can easily get caught or swept away in rushing waters.
Even as the cleanup process begins, parents must constantly watch children and teenagers to prevent them from playing in or around water. It doesn’t take long and it doesn’t take much water for young children to drown. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in many cases, children who drowned had been out of sight less than five minutes and were in the care of one or both parents at the time.
It does not take much water to present a danger. As little as one inch of water covering the nose and mouth can cause drowning. Just six inches of rushing water can knock you off your feet. Cars, including heavy trucks, can get swept away in less than two feet of moving water.
Everyone, especially children and teens, are strongly advised to stay away from flood waters, control channels, rivers, streams and other waterways when there is flooding or heavy rain runoff after big storms, including on sunny days, to avoid potential dangers.
