Water safety + Lindsay Lohan Prison Poll

At my son's birthday some years ago we had a pool party. One of his friends looked a little pensive. I asked him, "You can swim?" He assured me that he could. A few moments later I see him slipping down the incline into the deep end and he is in trouble. He looked paniced. I was really close by and grabbed him. No problem but I wonder what would have happened if I had not been paying close attention. 

My father saved his brother from drowning when they were kids.

Having recently learned to swim in order to do triathlons I am nervous around water.

A colleague sent me this article. It has a lot of good information. And, some surprises.

Ever saved anyone from drowning? Ever had a close call?

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Summer season is here, and for parents, that usually means the kids are in the water.  For shows that speak to moms, here are some interesting facts about drowning.

Drowning is not the violent, splashing, call for help that most people expect. 

To get an idea of just how quiet and non-dramatic drowning can be from the surface, consider this: 

·    It is the number two cause of accidental death in children, age 15 and under (just behind vehicle accidents).
·    Of the approximately 750 children who will drown next year, about 375 of them will do so within 25 yards of a parent or other adult.
·    In ten percent of those drownings, the adult will actually watch them do it, having no idea it is happening (source: CDC).

Look for these other signs of drowning when persons are in the water:
·    Head low in the water, mouth at water level
·    Head tilted back with mouth open
·    Eyes glassy and empty, unable to focus
·    Eyes closed
·    Hair over forehead or eyes
·    Not using legs - Vertical
·    Hyperventilating or gasping
·    Trying to swim in a particular direction but not making headway
·    Trying to roll over on the back
·    Ladder climb, rarely out of the water

Sometimes the most common indication that someone is drowning is that they don't look like they're drowning.  One way to be sure?  Ask them, "Are you all right?" If they can answer at all, they probably are.  If they return a blank stare, you may have less than 30 seconds to get to them.  And parents: children playing in the water make noise.  When they get quiet, get to them and find out why.

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Lindsay must report for prison by July 20. She is sentenced to 90 days. How many days will she serve? Everyone who correctly guesses the number of days she is in the big house for will be in a draw for $100 and a three-pack of Lilo movies. Email your guess to me Dave@C95.com.