8 ESSENTIAL WATER SAFETY TIPS FOR KIDS

Summer fun in the sun often means fun in the water, too. Whether you’ll be hitting the pool, lake, or beach this season, there are some crucial safety tips your family should know.

When the perceived level of danger is low, it results in lower levels of vigilance. For example, a child may be in relatively shallow water in the ocean, but if knocked to the ground by a wave and struck in the head, a drowning can occur in only inches of water.
It’s especially important to keep water safety tips top of mind when your family is going on a vacation that will put children in a new, unfamiliar environment.

Here are the top water-safety tips to remember:

1. Don’t Leave Children Unattended.
You might be tempted to quickly step away or do a few chores while your little one is playing, but it’s so important to never leave small children alone or in the care of another child in pools, spas, or even the bathtub.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, an adult should be only an arm’s length away when infants, toddlers, and weak swimmers are in or around water. Swimmers of all ages should never swim alone; always use the buddy system, even at a public pool or lifeguarded beach.

2.  Be extra vigilant during gatherings with lots of adults.
Dr. Timothy Cheslock, emergency medicine specialist at Florida Hospital Waterman, explained why even social gatherings with lots of adults around to supervise can be dangerous. “When supervising children in the water, the following anecdote holds true: if it’s everyone’s job, it’s no one’s job,” he said.

“At social gatherings, assign specific adult(s) to do nothing but supervise children in the water.  Wearing a laminated card on a lanyard around the neck easily identifies who is responsible, and the card may be passed off to another adult if it breaks or shift changes are needed,” said Cheslock.

3. Don’t rely on pool floats or water wings.
It’s important to remember that while pool floats can be helpful and fun, they are not considered life-saving devices.
“Never rely on water wings, flotation devices, or even lifejackets to save a child,” says Dr. Cheslock. “These aids are considered to be just that — aids — not replacements for supervising adults.”
But when boating, ensure everyone on the watercraft has an appropriately-sized lifejacket in case someone should fall overboard.

4.  Swim Near the Lifeguard
Even if you feel they are strong swimmers, children should always stay within sight of you and a lifeguard. Give them boundaries within the pool limits to keep them from swimming too far away or toward the deep end.  
When at the beach, stay near the guard station. Older swimmers should know what to do in case of rip currents — swim parallel to the shore until out of the current, then swim back to the shore. Young children should only enter the ocean with an adult to avoid being overtaken by unpredictable waves.

5. Prepare the pool for kids
 If you have a pool and are hosting family, or will be visiting a relative who has a pool, you should take extra precautions to protect children from the water.  Using a pool alarm, secured fence or barricades is a good start.

6. Make time for Swim Lessons
Golden Triangle YMCA offers swim lessons for children of all ages. Remember that regardless of how many lessons your kids have had, being in water can challenge their skills and become overwhelming at a moment’s notice. It’s important to always stay nearby.
As young swimmers get more confident, they may be excited to jump in the pool. Teach kids to ask permission before entering any water so you are always ready to supervise when they do.

7.  Learn CPR.
In the event of an emergency, call 911 immediately. But performing CPR when someone is pulled from the water can save their life in the time it takes for EMS to arrive. Read up on hands-only CPR here, or take time to attend a training class especially for pediatric CPR.

“When drowning occurs, the time to initiation of CPR is a key determinant of clinical outcome,” stressed Dr. Cheslock. “The sooner the drowning is interrupted, the more timely and effective the resuscitative efforts are, and the more likely the person is to do well. Pre-hospital and bystander CPR are critical to saving lives.”

8.  Be attentive.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by an upcoming trip to the pool or beach, remember that preparation and attentiveness are key to keeping the kids safe and healthy while they’re having fun. Relax, don’t multitask, and focus on making fun summer memories with the family.

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