The National Drowning Prevention Alliance reminds parents that the most likely cause of storm deaths is water, not wind, and urges them to be prepared.
Tropical storms and Hurricanes are classified based on their wind speed, but adverse water conditions, such as storm surges, flooding from rainfall, ripcurrents, and high waves, account for most of the fatalities that result from these events. According to NHC’s study, seven out of eight deaths from tropical cyclones that occurred in the U.S. during 1963-2012 were due to drowning or water related.
The National Drowning Prevention Alliance’s Executive Director, Adam Katchmarchi said that the same strategies used to prevent drownings in the home, and while playing in pools or other open bodies of water can also be applied during storms, when there are flash floods, and other hazardous water conditions. We know that even a few inches standing water can cause a drowning in small children. Therefore, whether flooding conditions or storm waters are nearby, parents should be vigilant and take preventative measures.
Katchmarchi warns, specifically, that the practice of filling bathtubs up with water before storms or hurricanes can increase the risk of drowning for children in the home.
The NDPA recommends the 5 Layers of Protection, which includes barriers and alarms as well as water competence, supervision, life-jackets and emergency preparedness.
The National Hurricane Center and NOAA have developed hurricane preparedness guidelines that include:
- * Determine if you are in an area that is prone to flooding and/or an evacuation zone
- You should also reinforce vulnerable areas in your home, such as windows, basements and roofs.
- * Avoiding areas with downed electrical lines and floodwaters following a storm
Visit NOAA.gov for additional hurricane preparation recommendations.
According to the National Hurricane Center
National Drowning Prevention Alliance The mission of the National Drowning Prevention Alliance (NDPA) is to “United we can prevent drowning”. Through education, awareness and advocacy, NDPA aims to reduce drownings and aquatic injuries among children ages 0 to 4 and address the leading cause of death in this age group. For more information, please visit ndpa.org.
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