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Staying Safe in and Around Water: Drowning Prevention for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities
- Harrell Homes
- Jul 25
- 3 min read
Summer brings warmth, fun, and often, opportunities to enjoy the water. For individuals with intellectual disabilities, water activities can be wonderfully enriching, but they also come with heightened risks. Drowning is a leading cause of accidental death for people with autism and intellectual disabilities. At Harrell Homes Assisted Living, ensuring the safety of our residents around water is a top priority, and we believe awareness and proactive measures are key to prevention.
Understanding the Increased Risk
Several factors can contribute to an increased risk of drowning for individuals with intellectual disabilities:
Varying Levels of Understanding: Comprehending danger, rules, and boundaries around water may be challenging for some.
Sensory Seeking Behaviors: The allure of water's feel or movement can lead individuals to seek it out, even unsupervised.
Communication Barriers: Difficulty communicating distress or understanding instructions quickly in an emergency.
Seizure Disorders: A higher prevalence of seizure disorders means a sudden medical event near water can be dangerous.
Lack of Fear or Awareness of Danger: Some individuals may not perceive the inherent risks associated with water.
Elopement/Wandering: Individuals who tend to wander may gravitate towards water bodies.
Essential Drowning Prevention Strategies
Implementing a multi-layered approach to water safety is crucial.
Constant, Active Supervision:
Never leave unsupervised: The most critical rule. A designated adult must provide constant, undivided attention whenever an individual is near water, even shallow water like bathtubs or kiddie pools. Drowning can happen silently and quickly.
"Water Watcher" System: When multiple adults are present, designate one person as the "Water Watcher" whose sole responsibility is to monitor the individual in or near water. Rotate this role.
Barriers and Alarms:
Secure Fencing: Pools should have four-sided fencing with self-closing, self-latching gates that are out of reach. Check local regulations for height and gate requirements.
Door and Window Alarms: Install alarms on doors and windows leading to pools or open water to alert caregivers if an individual tries to access these areas unsupervised.
Pool Alarms: Consider alarms that detect entry into the water.
Swimming Lessons and Water Safety Skills:
Adaptive Swim Lessons: Enroll individuals in swimming lessons specifically designed for those with intellectual disabilities or autism. Focus not just on swimming strokes, but on fundamental water safety skills like floating, treading water, and safely exiting the pool.
Practice Water Rules: Consistently teach and review rules like "no running near the pool," "swim with a buddy," and "always ask permission before entering the water." Use visual cues and social stories to reinforce these rules.
Life Jackets/Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs):
Mandatory Use: Ensure U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets are worn whenever in or near natural bodies of water (lakes, rivers, oceans) or during boating activities, regardless of swimming ability.
Proper Fit: Ensure life jackets fit snugly and properly according to weight and chest size.
Emergency Preparedness:
Learn CPR: All caregivers and family members should know CPR and basic first aid.
Have a Plan: Know how to quickly contact emergency services (911) and provide clear information about the location and situation.
Identify Water Sources: Be aware of all potential water hazards in and around your home and community (ponds, ditches, even large buckets).
A Community Commitment to Safety
At Harrell Homes Assisted Living in Philadelphia, we integrate these prevention strategies into our daily routines and outings. Our dedicated staff are trained in water safety and emergency response, ensuring that any water-based activities are conducted under stringent supervision and with all necessary precautions.
Water can be a source of immense joy and therapy. By taking proactive steps and prioritizing safety, we can ensure individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism enjoy aquatic environments safely and confidently.
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