THE following signs may signal that a child or adult is in danger of drowning:
HEAD low in the water, with mouth at water level;
HEAD tilted back, with mouth open;
EYES appear glassy and empty, unable to focus;
EYES are closed;
HAIR over forehead or eyes;
NOT using legs, appearing to be vertical;
HYPERVENTILATING or gasping;
TRYING to swim in a particular direction, but not making headway;
TRYING to roll over on the back; and,
APPEARING to climb an invisible ladder.
For newborns and children up to 4, parents and caregivers should never leave them alone or in the care of another child while in or near bathtubs, pools, spas or wading pools, or irrigation ditches or other open bodies of water.
With children in this age group, practise “touch supervision”, which means that a supervising adult should be within an arm’s length of the child, with attention focused on the child at all times when he or she is in or near water.
The adult should not be engaged in distracting activities, such as talking on the phone, socialising or tending to household chores.
Source: www.healthychildren.org