Summer Water Safety
Summer is here—and it’s time for baby pools, sprinklers, and trips to the beach! So let’s review some tips to keep young children safe in and around water.
Believe it or not, children can drown in just one inch of water. According to Kid Safe Worldwide, drowning is the leading cause of injury-related death among children ages one to four, and the third leading cause of injury-related death of children under the age of 19. Children under the age of one are most likely to drown at home, in the bathtub or in a bucket of water.
Water play is great for sensory skills, early STEM learning, motor skills, and so much more, so it’s great to encourage water play—but you must pay close attention. Put the phone aside. It is easy to become distracted by a text, and it only takes a few seconds for a child to get in trouble in the water.
Remember: when everyone is watching, no one is watching! When there are a lot of adults around, it is easy to assume that everyone is keeping an eye on the children and let your guard down. We assume we will hear a child having trouble in the water, but drowning is silent. It is a good idea to assign an adult to each child. The adults on “watch duty” should have a physical item as a reminder that they are on duty, such as a wristband or a lanyard; then, when they need to step away, they should hand the item to someone else to watch the children.
Swimming pools should always have several layers of protection. Don’t rely on a fence alone; doors to the pool area should also be locked. Consider installing alarms on doors and gates, as well as in the pool itself, so that you know when someone has jumped into the water.
Always remember to empty buckets, baby pools, and tubs immediately after use. It’s also a good idea to remove toys from pools after use so that children don’t go back later to try to get their toys. This is a common cause of young children drowning.
Keep bathroom doors closed and toilet lids down. Children are curious and always looking for interesting things to play with. It is important to remember that any water in the house could become a hazard.
When playing with young children in water, allow them to experience what it feels like to not have a swim vest or floatie on for a very short period of time, so that they don’t have a false sense of security. Show children what it feels like to try to float on their own, then explain why they always need an adult with them in the water. We want children to be comfortable around water, but a little bit of fear is healthy, as well.
Consider swim lessons for babies that focus on water acclamation and water survival. Parents and caregivers can also get certified in child CPR and basic water rescue skills at most local hospitals or recreation centers through the American Red Cross. Stewie the Duck Learns to Swim is a great book to read to young children about water safety. For more resources, check out The Stew Leonard Water Safety Foundation and Levi’s Legacy.
With a little bit of planning, water play can be safe and fun!
By Aimee Ketchum
