KEEPING KIDS SAFE
Kids need constant supervision around water — whether the water is in a bathtub, a wading pool, an ornamental fish pond, a swimming pool, a spa, the beach, or a lake.
Water Safety
Protect Children Around Water – All the Time! No matter where you live, or the time of year, it’s important to always watch children around water.
Learn To Swim
Give your child the chance to learn to swim. The most important reason is that swimming is the only sport which can save your child’s life.
Swimming Pool Safety
Teach children to float or swim as soon as possible. Always provide competent adult supervision when the pool is in use. No one should ever swim alone.
Natural Water Safety
It is important to wear a properly fitted, U.S. Coast Guard approved PFD (e.g. life jacket) at all times when recreating in open natural water, even when boating.
WATER SAFETY
Stay Safe In and Around The Water
WATER SAFETY
Most parents think water safety is first and foremost on their minds whenever they are enjoying summer activities with their young kids. But when the unthinkable happens and a child drowns, parents and caregivers have been known to say, “I only looked away for a second.”
NSC statistics point to drowning as a leading cause of death for young children – mostly due to children falling into a pool or being left alone in the bathtub.
Of the 3,406 drownings in 2014, more than 12% were children age 4 and younger, according to Injury Facts 2017. These statistics are in line with Consumer Product Safety Commission reports, which state more than 200 children ages 1 to 14 drowned in pools and spas during summer 2013. Bathtubs, toilets and even buckets also can pose a danger for very young children.
UNDIVIDED ATTENTION
Every pool, every lake and every warm summer day holds the possibility of new, fun summer experiences. All you need to add is your undivided attention.
- Supervise When in or Around Water. Designate a responsible adult to watch young children while in the bath and all children swimming or playing in or around water. Supervisors of preschool children should provide “touch supervision”, be close enough to reach the child at all times. Because drowning occurs quickly and quietly, adults should not be involved in any other distracting activity (such as reading, playing cards, talking on the phone, or mowing the lawn) while supervising children, even if lifeguards are present.
- Use the Buddy System. Always swim with a buddy. Select swimming sites that have lifeguards when possible.
- Seizure Disorder Safety. If you or a family member has a seizure disorder, provide one-on-one supervision around water, including swimming pools. Consider taking showers rather than using a bath tub for bathing. Wear life jackets when boating.
- Learn to Swim. Formal swimming lessons can protect young children from drowning. However, even when children have had formal swimming lessons, constant, careful supervision when children are in the water, and barriers, such as pool fencing to prevent unsupervised access, are still important.
- Learn Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). In the time it takes for paramedics to arrive, your CPR skills could save someone’s life.
- Air-Filled or Foam Toys are not safety devices. Don’t use air-filled or foam toys, such as “water wings”, “noodles”, or inner-tubes, instead of life jackets. These toys are not life jackets and are not designed to keep swimmers safe.
- Avoid Alcohol. Avoid drinking alcohol before or during swimming, boating, or water skiing. Do not drink alcohol while supervising children.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Parents are cautioned all the time about water safety, but drownings still occur. Always be aware and be in the present moment with your children. Following are a few water safety precautions:
- Never leave your child alone; if you have to leave, take your child with you
- Find age-appropriate swim lessons for your child, but keep in mind that lessons do not make your child “drown-proof”
- Lifeguards aren’t babysitters; always keep your eyes on your child
- Don’t let children play around drains and suction fittings
- Never consume alcohol when operating a boat, and always make sure everyone is wearing U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets
- Don’t underestimate the power of water; even rivers and lakes can have undertows
- Always have a first aid kit and emergency contacts handy
- Get training in CPR
- If a child is missing, check the water first
- Know the local weather conditions and forecast before swimming or boating. Strong winds and thunderstorms with lightning strikes are dangerous.
- Don’t let swimmers hyperventilate before swimming underwater or try to hold their breath for long periods of time. This can cause them to pass out (sometimes called “shallow water blackout”) and drown.
LEARN TO SWIM
Learning To Swim Saves Lives
TEACH A CHILD TO SWIM
The idea of a child’s death is disturbing in itself, but the statistical reality of youth drownings in America is simply alarming.
Before your child can join in the fun with family and friends or at day camp this summer, she may need extra help learning to feel comfortable in the water. Experts recommend that it’s important for school-age kids to know how to swim for safety reasons. Plus, the older a kid gets, the harder it can be for her to shake memories of feeling apprehensive at the pool. “Kids this age have the ability to listen and follow directions, so working with a skilled instructor — or a patient parent — can really increase a child’s confidence in the water,” says Lana Whitehead, founder of SwimKids USA, in Phoenix. Experts weigh in on the best tactics for conquering your child’s water worries now.
Your child can have real fears about buoyancy and breathing, so it’s crucial to take a gradual and loving approach. “He can begin by sitting on the edge of the pool with his feet dangling in,” suggests Whitehead. Soon, he’ll want to get into the water where he can stand. Next, gradually trickle some water over him, and encourage him to submerge his face. Then it’s on to blowing bubbles. “Get in close with him and do big inhales and exhales at the surface of the water,” suggests Whitehead. Practice these skills in the bathtub to reinforce what he learned.
TAKE THE PLUNGE
Teach kids to always swim when and where a lifeguard is on duty.
Inevitably, some kids will cry about going in the water even after weeks of sitting poolside. “It’s hard for parents to see their child work through that kind of fear,” explains Emmalee Morse, an aquatics supervisor for Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Go ahead and carry your child into shallow water — even if she’s kicking and screaming. Hold her in front of you with your arms around her. Take a toy with you, sing songs, and do anything you can to distract her and help her feel safe, Morse says.
Whether at the lake or at the beach, teach your child to get out of the water during bad weather, especially lightning.
FORGET THE FLOATIES
You may have bought your child floaties (also called water wings) for his arms to make him feel more comfortable, but experts advise against them. Not only can they give him a false sense of security, but they discourage proper form because they force his body to be vertical instead of horizontal in the water. If your child is used to floaties, taking them away might be tough. “Let him know that he’s only allowed to sit on the pool steps and watch until he learns to swim without them,” Whitehead says. Once he knows how to swim on his own, he can use blow-up rings or pool noodles for fun.
LEARN THE BASICS
You can either teach your kid yourself or hire a swim instructor. “In lessons, kids focus on proper technique, and then Mom and Dad can focus on play,” Morse says. If you pay for instruction, make sure there is a lifeguard on duty as well as safety equipment like a reaching pole and a ring buoy. Look for a swimming teacher who is certified by the Red Cross or another reputable program and is also trained in CPR. If you decide to teach your child yourself, keep the lesson time short. Matt Giovanisci, creator of Learn2Swim.org, reminds parents to make safety the top priority: If your child can’t swim the length of the pool — called the deep-water test — you should be within arm’s reach of him at all times.
Know which rides are appropriate for your child’s age and development. For example, wave pools can quickly go from calm to rough, putting even a good swimmer in over his or her head. Younger children can be intimidated by older kids’ splashing and roughhousing.
HELP PREVENT DROWNING
According to national statistics, drowning is the second-leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for kids ages 1 to 14, claiming two to three young lives every day. The fact that 88 percent of child drownings occur under adult supervision and 60 percent of victims are within 10 feet of safety makes the numbers all the more sobering.
Swimming Pool Safety
Here Are Some Tips
HOME POOL TIPS
A backyard pool can be beneficial for kids. Swimming is not only fun, it is terrific exercise. In addition, a pool can set the scene for hours of quality family time, as well as playtime with friends.
Make sure your child learns how to swim, but never assume that he or she is safe in the water alone. Many parents overestimate their children’s swimming competencies. Always, always supervise.
Having a pool is also a huge responsibility.
If you have a pool, you have a responsibility to safeguard it. There is no substitute for vigilant supervision. But there are additional steps you can and should take — including these:
- Having a pool, pond, spa, or hot tub on your property is a tremendous responsibility when it comes to safety.Hot tubs may feel great to adults, but kids can become dangerously overheated in them and can even drown — so it’s best not to let them use them at all.
- Having a fence (one that goes directly around the pool or spa) between the water and your house is the best safety investment you can make and will help prevent pool-related drownings.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), fences should meet these standards:
- Fences should stand at least 4 feet (130 centimeters) high with no foot or handrails for kids to climb on.
- The slats should be less than 4 inches (110 millimeters) apart so a child can’t get through, or if chain link, should have no opening larger than 1¾ inches (50 millimeters).
- Gates should be self-closing and self-latching, and the latch should be out of kids’ reach.
Never leave the pool cover partially on when kids are swimming, because they might become trapped under it.
Remove pool steps and ladders when you’re not using them.
Keep a house phone or cell phone nearby when supervising kids in the pool. This way, you won’t be tempted to leave the kids to answer the phone, and you can call for help if needed. Post emergency numbers close at hand.
RED CROSS TIPS
Millions of us enjoy warm weather every year by swimming in our backyard pools and relaxing in hot tubs. Tragically though, over 200 young children drown in backyard swimming pools each year. The American Red Cross suggests owners make pool safety their priority by following these guidelines:
- Secure your pool with appropriate barriers. Completely surround your pool with a 4-feet high fence or barrier with a self-closing, self-latching gate. Place a safety cover on the pool or hot tub when not in use and remove any ladders or steps used for access. Consider installing a pool alarm that goes off if anyone enters the pool.
- Keep children under active supervision at all times. Stay in arm’s reach of young kids. Designate a responsible person to watch the water when people are in the pool—never allow anyone to swim alone. Have young or inexperienced swimmers wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket.
- Ensure everyone in the home knows how to swim well by enrolling them in age-appropriate water orientation and learn-to-swim courses from the Red Cross.
- Keep your pool or hot tub water clean and clear. Maintain proper chemical levels, circulation and filtration. Regularly test and adjust the chemical levels to minimize the risk of earaches, rashes or more serious diseases.
- Establish and enforce rules and safe behaviors, such as “no diving,” “stay away from drain covers,” “swim with a buddy” and “walk please.”
- Ensure everyone in the home knows how to respond to aquatic emergencies by having appropriate safety equipment and taking water safety, first aid and CPR courses from the Red Cross.
- You can buy other devices, such as pool covers and alarms, but these haven’t been proved effective against drowning for very young children, so fencing remains your best measure of protection.
- Clear the Pool and Deck of Toys. Remove floats, balls and other toys from the pool and surrounding area immediately after use so children are not tempted to enter the pool area unsupervised.
Whether at the lake or at the beach, teach your child to get out of the water during bad weather, especially lightning.
COOL KIDS KNOW POOL RULES
Always have an adult nearby. Even if you’re a great swimmer, you never know when you might need help.
Set a good example so younger kids know how to behave. The pool is only safe when EVERYONE follows the rules.
Tell an adult if there’s a problem. You don’t want to get hurt, so let an adult take care of it.
Check the water depth. You don’t want to get hurt diving into water that’s too shallow.
Always wear sunscreen. Without it, you could end up with painful sunburn, which can lead to other health problems.
No running! You could slip or trip — hurting not just yourself, but someone else as well.
Put toys away. People might trip over them and hurt themselves. No one wants that!
Barricade the pool completely. Experts recommend a fence of at least four feet tall, with slats close enough together that kids can’t squeeze between them. Make sure there are no handholds or footholds for agile climbers.
Secure the gate with a lock. The best gates are self-closing and self-latching. Position the latches well out of reach of children. Install an audible gate alarm that will alert you inside the house if the gate is opened.
Get an in-the-water pool alarm too — one that will alert you if anyone jumps or falls in the pool
In your home, secure doors and windows leading to the pool, so kids don’t have access from inside the house.
NATURAL WATER SAFETY
Here Are Some Tips
LAKES AND PONDS
- Don’t let kids swim without adult supervision — lakes or ponds might be shallow near the bank, but increase in depth sharply farther out from shore.
- Ponds and lakes may hide jagged rocks, broken glass, or trash.
- Make sure kids wear foot protection; even in the water, they should wear aqua socks or water shoes.
- Watch out for weeds and grass that could entangle a leg or arm.
- Most boating accidents, particularly among teens, are related to alcohol. When you and your family are boating, assign a designated driver who won’t drink. Be sure teens know about the dangers of alcohol, on and off the water.
BEACHES
Teach kids to always swim when and where a lifeguard is on duty. They shouldn’t swim close to piers or pilings because sudden water movements may cause swimmers to collide with them.
- Unlike the calm waters of a swimming pool, the beach has special dangers like currents and tides. Check with the lifeguard when you arrive to find out about the water conditions.
- Don’t allow kids to swim in large waves or undertows, and tell them never to stand with their back to the water because a sudden wave can easily knock them over.
- Teach kids that if they’re caught in a rip current or undertow, they should swim parallel to the shore or should tread water and call for a lifeguard’s help.
- The stings of jellyfish or Portuguese man-of-wars can be painful, so tell kids to watch out for them in the water and to tell an adult right away if they’re stung.
WATER PARKS
Water parks can be a lot of fun for kids, as long as you keep safety in mind. Before you go, make sure the park is monitored by qualified lifeguards. Once there, read all posted signs before letting your child on any rides (many rides have age, height, weight, or health requirements, and each has a different depth of water).
Teach your kids to follow all rules and directions, such as walking instead of running and always going down the water slide in the right position — feet first and face up. A Coast-Guard approved life jacket is a good idea, too.
Know which rides are appropriate for your child’s age and development. For example, wave pools can quickly go from calm to rough, putting even a good swimmer in over his or her head. Younger children can be intimidated by older kids’ splashing and roughhousing.