How to keep kids safe from drowning đ±đ
Did you know that there are 11 drowning deaths and 22 non-fatal drownings every day in the U.S.?
Drowning happens fast. Itâs often silent, and itâs the leading cause of death among children aged 1 to 4 years old.
We had a scare with one of our nephews that almost drowned, and Iâm very thankful that he recovered so well. The outcome could have been much different, and a tragedy none of us would be able to live with. As it is, we have all been changed by the incident and we make sure to spread the word about how it can happen to your family, too; when you are least expecting itâŠ.
Today, Iâll share with you several tips on how to keep kids safe from drowning, and what to do if your child goes underwater.
Before I dive in, I hope you enjoyed and perhaps printed out last weekâs blog on âTips and checklists for getting yourselves Ready to stay healthy when you Travelâ, if you missed it, you can use this link, Here.
đđđOK, letâs keep our kids safe around waterđđđ
Whatâs the #1 way to prevent drowning?
Make learning to swim a priority for your family!
You can teach your child to swim as early as one year of age. At less than one year, theyâre not really learning a skill. They may be doing some reflexive things, but one year old and above is when I recommend beginning swimming lessons.
The reason is because children need to be developmentally and emotionally ready, and most kids are developmentally ready at four.
Some kids are ready at one, but most kids should be able to learn how to swim by age four. If you havenât taught them to swim by age five or six, itâs time to get started because this can be a lifesaving endeavor for your family.
If children can swim, does that mean theyâre safe in a pool?
Knowing how to swim does not make your child drown-proof. Itâs just one of the layers of drowning prevention that I use, but again, should absolutely be a priority.
Donât ever be complacent near a pool or leave a child without close adult supervision.
If there are young children in the water, always have an assigned âWater-watcherâ who watches the kids. They should not be looking at their cell phone and they should not be drinking. If they need to go into the bathroom, the kids need to get out of the pool and sit in a designated place outside of the water until that person returns.
If youâre near a pool but not using it, be sure to limit childrenâs access to the pool.
Kids can go out so quickly and get in the water and drown. It takes seconds to drown, so you need to be really careful and know where your children are and always have a designated person watching the children.
How to keep kids safe from drowning in Lakes, Rivers and the Ocean
Bringing kids to the beach or lake is a summer staple, so here are some quick tips for how to keep kids safe from drowning while swimming in open water:
Only swim in designated areas. Look for areas that are identified as safe to swim and avoid places that are not designated for swimming. Preferably go where thereâs a lifeguard just so you have somebody who can provide rescue if something were to happen.
Never swim alone. Someone should always know where youâre going to be.
When in doubt, get out. If something doesnât feel right, if the current feels too strong, or the water is murky, or youâre just not comfortable, get out of the water.
Be aware of the weather. Look at the forecast. Donât go out when thereâs thunder and lightning or if a storm is coming in and you canât get out in an appropriate amount of time.
Understand the swimming conditions. If youâre in a lake, know where the drop offs are and where the rocks might be if youâre diving or jumping. If youâre in the ocean, make sure you understand the currents. You always want to swim with the current and parallel to the shore. If you see a warning about rip tides, donât get in the water.
Donât drink alcohol and swim. Youâre less likely to recognize and respond to danger.
Wear appropriate life vests. Children and adults should wear appropriate life vests when swimming in open water.
What can you do to help a child who might be drowning?
Follow these steps as quickly as possible:
Recognize distress (which is why lifeguards and âwater watchersâ are important).
Provide flotation.
Remove from water.
Provide care as needed (call 911 and perform CPR).
THE BOTTOM LINE
âThe water doesnât know how old you areâ
âWe know summer is the height of being alive with happy times and good sunshine.â
âSummertime means going to the beach, going to the pool, and having fun.â
Hanging out with family and friends at the beach, lake or pool is a summer staple. Unfortunately, every year approximately 800 children under the age of 14 die due to drowning accidents. For every child who drowns, four more are hospitalized for near drowning. Some children sustain permanent brain damage.
Drowning incidents are preventable. Follow these tips to help keep your children safe this summer:
Always watch children when they are in or near water.
Donât be distracted by electronics, reading or talking to others.
Watch children even if they know how to swim.
Designate an adult âwater-watcherâ who pledges to supervise children in the water at all times and not to leave the area without designating another adult to watch the children.
Keep a phone near you but use it only to call for help in an emergency.
If a child is missing, check the water first.
Children and adults should wear life jackets, especially those who canât swim. Wear life jackets when boating and participating in water sports.
Learn how to swim out of a rip current.
Teach children never to swim alone and only to swim in designated swimming areas.
Never leave a child unattended near a pool, bathtub, bucket, toilet, puddle, pond or wading pool.
If you have a pool, put a locking fence all the way around it. A pool in a fenced in yard does not count. The pool itself needs a fence around all sides, even if it is inside a fenced in yard.
Do not leave toys in the pool or beside it.
For extra protection, install a pool alarm, a gate alarm on the fence and an automatic pool cover.
Itâs extremely important to review and use these tips when near any type of water.
Enjoy your summer and keep your children safe!
As always, to make an appointment with me use this link: HERE.
Or, you can give me a call at (973) 210-3838
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