Spotlight on  Beach Safety

 

Everyday, about 10 people die from unintentional drowning. Of these, two are children age 14 or younger.

 

Drowning ranks fifth among the leading causes of unintentional deaths in the United States. Safety experts believe the risk of drowning is significantly higher at ocean beaches given additional risk variables such as waves, rip currents and tide changes.

 

Clearly drowning deaths at ocean beaches is a significant public health issue. While there is an ongoing effort to teach young people to swim, there is currently very limited emphasis put on ocean beach safety in regards to public education.

That's why The Children's Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center is teaming with the  Monmouth County Chapter of the United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) to initiate a pilot program to educate school-age children on beach safety/drowning prevention in  June. Educational workshops at schools are being offered as a part of a "Beach Safety Week" program with public service announcements on local radio stations outlining beach safety tips. Beach safety kits will be offerered courtesy of The Children's Hospital at Monmouth.

            

 

Click here to view a list of the USLA's Top 10 Safety Tips.

 

 

Children's Hospital Pediatrician

Takes Beach Safety to Heart

 

In his personal life, Monmouth Medical Center pediatric endocrinologist Mike Barrows, D.O.,  shown in photo above, has competed in lifeguard tournaments for more than 20 years and holds mutliple United States National Ironman titles. The chief of pediatric endocrinology for The Children's Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center depicted above has been a Jersey Shore life guard since the age of 15, making well over 100 rescues during his summer duty, which he continues on a part time basis at Sea Girt even as a practicing physician. In addition to water rescues, Dr. Barrows has assisted beachgoers who have been injured, experienced febrile seizures, had diabetic complications, and other medical emergencies. His years as an ocean lifeguard helped to shape Dr. Barrow's interest in medicine.

 

 

 

 

 

The Children's Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center leads Monmouth County's first and only chapter of the Safe Kids International Campaign - an initiative to prevent injuries

and save young lives.

 

The county-based chapter is among more than 500 grassroots

partnerships throughout the world associated with

Safe Kids, the first nonprofit organization dedicated solely

to the prevention of unintentional childhood injury or

accidents - the No. 1 killer of children 14 and under.

Click here to learn more.