Take Steps to Stay Safe Around Water
One of the most popular summer activities is swimming. One of the steps your family can take to stay safe is to sign your children up for swimming lessons. There are so many places that offer swimming lessons, inlcuding myself. By signing your kids up for swimming lessons you are setting them up for a lifetime of safe swimming. By signing your child up for lessons you are equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to help them and your loved ones swim safely and with confidence.
- Sign up for swimming lessons. All children develop at different paces so when you think your child is ready sign him or her up for lessons. Most places have lessons for kids anywhere from 6 months old to adults.
- Supervise. When your children are around water, whether it's bath time, taking a dip in the pool, or swimming in the ocean, make sure your children aren't far from arm's length away from you at all times.
- Prevent water from being unsupervised. There are pool alarms that can be installed to set off an alarm if anything over a weight amount falls into the pool. There are also door and window alarms that you can install as well. Another thing you could do is use barriers around your pool at home or buy a safety cover.
- Create Rules. Let your kids know from a young age what is and isn't allowed when it comes to the pool or beach. Set boundaries for them, teach them that it is never okay to be near the water when an adult isn't present. Teach them that rough play is never allowed in the water because someone could easily get hurt and possibly drown because of it. Also give them the knowledge early that things like noodles and tubes can createa a false sense of security and should not be used as life jackets.
- Wear a life jacket. Inexperienced or non-swimmers should always wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket.
- Open water is not the same. Teach children that swimming in open water compared to a swimming pool comes with greater risks. Some of those risks are: river currents, ocean undertows, changing weather, and rip currents.
- Always be prepared. As a parent make sure that you know CPR. Also have a first-aid kit nearby and ready to use in case anything happens. Make sure you know how to handle emergency situations without panicking. NEVER PANIC.
References
- https://www.safekids.org/poolsafety
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/infant-and-toddler-health/in-depth/child-safety/art-20044744
- https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Drowning-Swimming-Drown-Water-Pool-Beach-15-Things-You-Need-to-Know-This-Summer-about-the-Fifth-Leading-Cause-of-Death--263491391.html
- https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/safety-drowning.html
