SAN ANTONIO \u2013 Hot summer days bring kids to pools, rivers and lakes, but those same waters can turn dangerous in seconds, especially for inexperienced swimmers.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost of the time when we hear a drowning call come in, it\u2019s for the little ones. It\u2019s for your toddlers. It\u2019s your babies,\u201d said Haley Hawkins, a paramedic with Arcadian Ambulance.<\/p>\n
Drowning is a leading cause of accidental death for children under the age of five in Texas, according to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS)<\/a>.<\/p>\n Last summer, two children died<\/a> in separate drowning incidents<\/a> at a neighborhood pool in San Antonio. First responders say understanding water safety is the key to preventing tragedies like those from happening again.<\/p>\n Hawkins said one common mistake is leaving supervision to older children.<\/p>\n \u201cSometimes you\u2019ve seen parents who left the supervision to the older kids, and I would say that that\u2019s too much of a responsibility for children, no matter the age,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n In any drowning situation, Hawkins said every minute matters.<\/p>\n What to do \u2014 and what to avoid \u2014 near water<\/p>\n Hawkins recommends designating one adult as the \u201cwater watcher\u201d \u2014 someone whose only job is to watch the kids with zero distractions. Weak swimmers and toddlers should always wear life jackets.<\/p>\n If someone is struggling in the water, call 911 first. If it\u2019s safe to do so, reach toward them with a pole, rope or float, but don\u2019t jump in unless you\u2019re trained in water rescue. <\/p>\n