Keeping Little Swimmers Safe: What Every Parent Needs To Know
Water safety is of the utmost importance for a lot of parents, but especially for those who have kids who don’t yet understand the true dangers that come from playing in or near water.
Ensuring that water safety is critical for parents, as drowning remains a leading cause of accidental death in children. It often also occurs in silence and is quick.
Implementing multiple layers of protection is the most effective way to prevent accidents from occurring.
Essential supervision strategies
Under no circumstances should you leave your child unattended near water or in the water. Even if they’re good swimmers, it’s important to always be present when they’re playing in the water, because accidents and freak moments can occur, which may require your help before they’re in danger.
Designate a specific adult who is solely responsible for watching the child or children in the water. This duty can be rotated regularly in order to prevent fatigue, and can be done especially when on vacation.
For young children who are under the age of five or inexperienced swimmers in general, you should always stay close enough to reach them immediately. Encourage children to always swim with a partner so that they can look out for one another in general.
Early education and skills
Early education is important so that your children are aware of the dangers of the water, but can also be confident when in it. Enroll in swim lessons and start them swimming, even if it’s not a lesson, to get them confident in the water.
Practice leaning back like a starfish to keep their airway clear and to stay calm if they’re in difficulty. Pool safety with children is something you need to practice early to avoid any possible dangers.
Safety gear and environment
Make use of any life jackets available and ensure children are always wearing them. Try to avoid relying on floaties and inflatable toys as these aren’t life-saving devices. They shouldn’t replace supervision.
It’s always worthwhile to dress your children in bright, neon colors, as this helps to make them more easily visible if they get distressed and go under the water at any point.
Secure your home
It’s definitely good to secure your home if you have the benefit of a pool. Whether you use it actively or not, you want to make sure four-sided fencing is installed with both self-closing and self-latching gates.
Make sure in the home you’re also properly emptying out paddling pools, buckets, and bathtubs all immediately after use. Even a small amount of water can prove fatal, depending on the age of the child.
Emergency preparedness
Being prepared for emergencies is never something you can be too eager about. The use of CPR and First Aid can prove vital in situations where a child gets into trouble, and you need to perform some form of aid while awaiting emergency services.
Real drawing rarely looks like shouting or splashing. Instead, you should watch out for a head tilted back and a vertical body that’s gasping or otherwise silent. This would indicate someone is in trouble and needs help.