How to keep your children safe around water

The Importance of Water Safety

Water is very appealing for children, and babies and toddlers love to splash and wade, enjoying the new sensations and excitement. However, as much fun as it can be for curious little ones at play, water can also be very dangerous. Because drowning is the leading cause of injury-related deaths for small children, it is vital that you take proactive measures to keep your children safe. While backyard swimming pools are particularly hazardous, a toddler can drown in just a couple of inches of water. This is because their heads are large in proportion to their bodies. If a toddler falls into water, that heavy head is hard to lift, and this can mean that the little one can’t get his or her airway clear. A drowning child cannot call for help, so it’s important to reduce this risk as much as possible.

Teach Water Safety Early

One of the best ways to ensure your children’s safety around water is to enable them to protect themselves.

• First and foremost, teach them to swim. This does not in any way replace adult supervision around water, but knowing how to swim is an extremely important skill. Fortunately, you can enroll your children in swim class when they are babies! According to the AAP, swimming lessons starting at age one are effective in offering kids an additional layer of protection.
• Practice water skills with your kids. Expose them to the water early, and help them practice kicking, floating, holding their breath, and finding the edge of the pool, as well as repeating swim strokes. The more confidently they can handle the water, the more comfortable you will be when they’re around water.
• Talk about water safety. Of course, you don’t want to scare your children unnecessarily. However, you can have age-appropriate discussions, reading books about water safety and talking about the dangers and the rules. Explain to your little ones why it is important to be safe around water, and praise them when they follow the rules.

Remain Vigilant Around Water

Always supervise children around water, whether it’s a backyard swimming pool, the beach, or the bathtub. Make sure at least one adult has eyes on the kids at all times, and if you are that adult, don’t multi-task. Keep your focus on the children, and don’t read, text, or look away. Tragedy can happen in a moment, so being alert and attentive is crucial. Most importantly, do not drink alcohol when you are in charge of watching children swim. Inside the house, keep your bathroom doors shut, to avoid the dangers of tubs and toilets. Always supervise bathtub, don’t step away, and drain the bathtub as soon as the bath is finished. Similarly, if you have any buckets on your property, empty them as soon as they are not in use.

Create a Safe Environment

As with every aspect of parenting, setting yourself up for success goes a long way. If you have a backyard pool, put a fence around it. Install alarms on the doors to the house, too, and have emergency equipment easily accessible at the pool. When the pool is not in use, secure it with a safety cover, and do the same for the hot tub, if you have one. Keep riding toys away from the pool area, and take pool toys out of the pool when swimming time is over. Toys in the pool can be very interesting to children, who could easily fall in while reaching for a colorful toy. Educate yourself on potential hazards, including pool drains, and learn CPR. Even when every safety measure has been taken, accidents can happen, and CPR can help you save a life if the unthinkable occurs.

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