Accidents happen on a daily basis and knowing first aid could literally save someone’s life. You also know the importance of Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for helping someone who was submerged too long in water. Anyone can learn both of these life-saving skills and will probably want to learn them if they are considering the purchase of a swimming pool for their family.

No one wants to think about the possibility of a loved one having access to a pool and drowning. Unfortunately, drowning is the third most common cause of death among those 44 and younger. Most people who drown are younger than 20; most of those are younger than the age of 5.

Besides being helpful for drowning victims, CPR is a basic life-saving technique that can be used to save anyone stranger, friend, or family member  should they have a heart attack. With the number of people that die each year from drowning, it is an invaluable skill to have.

Why would you want to learn CPR or basic first aid? There is any number of reasons to learn these skills.

1. Drowning is the second most common cause of injury for children. Drowning has been said to be possible in a cup of water. Would you know what to do if your child drowned? Learning proper CPR can help you know exactly how to act if this unfortunate event were to happen.

2. Submersions (or drowning) are accidents that can be prevented. If you have a pool in your yard, is it easily accessible for anyone or is it properly fenced to reduce the chance of someone getting into it?

3. If a person can pull someone out of the water and immediately provide CPR, their chances of survival are doubled.

4. More people having this basic life-saving skill can greatly reduce the number of deaths either from drowning or from a heart attack.

You don’t have to have a background in medicine to learn First Aid or CPR. In fact, the only requirements are that you have an interest, pay attention in class, and learn to apply what you learn in order to provide aid when it is needed.

To learn more about the availability of CPR and First Aid classes in your area, contact the American Heart Association, Red Cross, or a local hospital to find out if there are classes being given. Then consider signing up for the next one.

You know accidents can happen when children and water are involved. The sheer number of drowning victims is enough to make any parent concerned about having a child near the water. However, since you also know the importance of CPR, it might be time to do something about by taking a class and being sure you can provide aide to a child that has been submerged for too long.