Water Safety: Four Tips That Can Help Parents Keep Their Children Out Of Harm's Way During Water Play
For many families, summertime means longer days and time away from school. These two things often lead to families engaging in fun activities like swimming. While all activities have their risk factors, swimming particularly puts kids at risk of serious injury or death due to accidental drowning. For that reason, it is vital that families take extra care in educating themselves on water safety and showing their kids how to stay safe in an around the water. Read on to learn the Top Tips to Prevent Your Child from Drowning.
The first rule of water safety for children is to never go anywhere near water without permission and while unattended. The simple truth is that a drowning accident is much less likely to occur when children are only allowed to play in or near the water when an attentive adult is present. It’s even better if that adult is a lifeguard and knows how to recognize the signs of a drowning child.
Although parents may teach a child never to go swimming without an adult, it’s still vital that they keep children safe by ensuring that all access to water is restricted. In addition to locked gates that enclose a pool or hot tub, parents should make use of pool alarms that will alert someone if a child attempt to go near the water. Every possible barrier that can be used to prevent a child from accessing the water should be implemented.
It is vital that parents teach their children how to swim. If they themselves cannot teach the child, then it’s a good idea to enroll them in SwimEasy courses with a certified professional. This will help a child learn how to keep their heads above water, know when and how to wear flotation devices, and give them adequate training on how to when to eat before swimming (especially in deep water).
Everyone in the family should get informed about how to recognize and respond to a water emergency. Swimmers who are in distress are often silent and sometimes exhibit normal swimming behavior. They may be treading water but not able to move forward. A professional swimming instructor can teach families what the signs of drowning are and what to do when they occur. Always have reaching and throwing equipment as well as life jackets available around the water, as this will make emergency response much easier for everyone.
Water safety is serious business, and everyone in the family should treat it as such. It’s too easy for a child that was just having fun in the water a minute ago to find themselves drowning moments later. For those who want to keep their children out of harm’s way, education about water safety can give them peace of mind and help them ensure that the whole family is able to enjoy the water safely.
