focus on health
:::safe living:::
Hero
Hero
A Backyard
Home should be a haven, a swimming pool a place of rest and relaxation, but when
a young child slips out of sight, the backyard can become an emergency scene.
“I was at home, having breakfast, when I heard these bloodcurdling screams from a nearby house,” said James F. Kenny, MD, MBA, FACEP, associate chairman of the emergency department at Staten Island University Hospital. “I shouted out an offer to help, and all
I heard was ‘pool’ and ‘baby,’ and I ran over.”
Dr. Kenny and another neighbor pulled the non-breathing 14-month-old from the pool and began cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), keeping it up until an ambulance arrived. Once at the hospital, emergency personnel resuscitated the baby, and the pediatric intensive care unit brought him back to full strength.
Emergency-Free Backyard
“If young children are in the vicinity of a swimming pool, the only sure way to prevent this kind of emergency is constant vigilance,” Dr. Kenny said. “Any child who is old enough should learn to swim and tread water.”
Keep your backyard even safer with these tips:
Make sure pools have 4-foot-tall barriers and self-latching gates.
Get CPR-certified in case of emergencies.
Check play areas for safety, looking for loose screws or harmful objects that may be lying around.
If an emergency should occur, dial 911.
James F. Kenny, MD, is seen with members
of the emergency department at Staten Island University Hospital-South Site.
northshorelij.com
to Find a physician near you, call 1-888-321-DOCS.
