Kids and Water Safety: What Every Parent Needs to Know

According to the National Safety Council, “Drownings claim the lives of more than 4,000 people each year. Although all age groups are represented, children ages 0-4 have the highest drowning mortality rate.” As a parent, there are several precautions you can take to make water and swimming a fun and safe activity for your family.

Swimming Fundamentals. Swimming can be a fun and exciting activity for you and your children, but only if you teach them a few key rules to remember every time they want to set foot in the water:

1. Be sure to give every family member a chance to learn to swim. Children over the age of three must have lessons taught by qualified instructors. Just remember that knowing how to swim does not make your children “drown proof.”

2. Teach your children to never swim alone. Always practice the buddy system with your children and insist that they do so even when they are with other adults. In addition to that, explain to your children the importance of swimming in areas that have lifeguards and show them the places where they can swim. Also, do not allow them to be submerged in the water unless it is clearly marked as safe for diving. Otherwise, the water may be too shallow or there may be obstructions underwater that make diving unsafe.

3. Set individual rules for each family member based on their abilities. For example, younger and less experienced swimmers may not dive in water that is waist deep.

Basics of the swimming pool at home. A swimming pool at home is a great way to relax and cool off in the summer, but it can also be the source of tragedy if proper precautions are not taken to protect children from the dangers of water safety.

1. Enclose your pool with a fence that is at least 4 feet high and has vertical tiles no more than four inches apart. All doors and gates must close and lock automatically and all latches must be out of the reach of children.

2. Always remove all toys from the pool area when not in use. Pool toys and balls can attract young children to the pool area and they may accidentally fall into the water while trying to get one.

3. If you have a pool or there is a pool in the neighborhood, always check there first if you can’t find your child. It only takes seconds for a child to drain, so it’s important to act quickly and scan both in and around the pool for the missing child.

4. Always empty or drain inflatable pools in your yard when not in use. A child can drain less than two inches of water, so it’s important not to leave that water unattended.

Other considerations. When enjoying the water with your family, keep these other considerations in mind as well:

1. Check the water temperature. Young children cannot keep their body heat as long as adults. If you notice your child is shivering or his lips are turning blue, it’s time to get out of the water and warm up.

2. Leave the water at the first sign of bad weather.

3. Wear sunscreen and sunglasses to protect your eyes and skin from the sun’s harmful rays. Insist that your children do the same.

4. Drink plenty of water on hot days. It is possible to become dehydrated even while swimming.

Sources: The National Security Council; (nsc.org).
The American Red Cross (redcross.org)