Oklahoma Child Death Review Board and OKDHS Partner to Encourage Caregivers to Always Watch Kids Around Water

OKLAHOMA CAPITOL -- The Oklahoma Child Death Review Board and the Oklahoma Department of Human Services encourage all Oklahomans to designate a responsible adult to watch children when around any amount of water. Constant supervision is the best way to prevent unintentional injuries and death. In the last week, reports have shown that four Oklahoma children have drowned in the state – the youngest being only 16 months.

In March, CDRB, in partnership with OKDHS, launched the Think.Prevent.Live. – Keep Our Children Safe campaign at the State Capitol. The purpose of the campaign is to encourage adults to be watchful of children in their care at all times in hopes of reducing preventable child deaths. The first campaign installment focuses on reducing preventable drownings.

“With the spring heat and humidity here in Oklahoma, children are naturally drawn to water,” said Annette Wisk Jacobi, chair, CDRB. “Caregivers need to be extra mindful when leaving a child – even for a few seconds – around water. We mean any body of water - not just swimming pools and lakes - but also mop buckets, aquariums, toilets, bathtubs, even ice chests. A few inches of water, an unattended child and mere seconds may be all it takes to create a tragedy.”

According to Jacobi, parents, grandparents, child care providers and caregivers need to always designate a responsible adult to look after children at swimming pools, lakes and parties.

“Do not assume that someone else is supervising the children. Designate a child watcher - a person whose only responsibility is to know where all the children are,” said Jacobi. “The child watcher role can be rotated, much like lifeguards at a pool. However, when an adult is serving as the child watcher, he or she must not be distracted by anything else, nor be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.”

With summer still ahead, parents and caregivers have many opportunities to ensure that every Oklahoma child is safe around any water source, no matter how small or large. Think.Prevent.Live. – Keep Our Children Safe.

For more information about the Think.Prevent.Live. campaign or about the Oklahoma Child Death Review Board, please contact Lisa Rhoades at 405-271-8858.