swimtime
With the recent heat wave we’ve been having, one great way to keep cool is to take the family to the water, whether that be a pool, lake or the ocean. However, parents need to watch their children closely when they are around water to ensure their safety.
According to doctors at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, drowning rates have fallen steadily over the past 25 years, but drowning continues to be the second leading cause of injury-related death for children ages 1 to 18.
Here are some tips on how children can stay safe while playing around water from the American Academy of Pediatrics:
- All caregivers should learn CPR.
- Never leave a toy in or around a pool.
- Never leave children alone in or near a bathtub, even for a minute. There are no “bath seats” that are proven to be safe and not result in drownings.
- Never leave children alone in or near the pool — this includes inflatables and other children’s pools. An adults should be within arm’s length, providing “touch supervision.”
- Swimming lessons are recommended for children ages 1-4 years. New studies suggest that these children may be less likely to drown if they have had swimming lessons. Teaching your child how to swim DOES NOT guarantee your child is safe in water.
- Make sure there is a telephone by the pool in case of an emergency.
- Install a fence at least four feet high around all sides of the pool.
- Make sure pool gates self-close and self-latch at a heigh small children can’t reach.
- Keep rescue equipment nearby, including a shepherd’s hook (a long pole with a hook on the end) and a life presever.
- Avoid inflatable swimming aids such as “floaties” — they are not a substitute for approved life vests and can give children a false sense of security.
- Teach children to never run, push, or jump on others around water.
- Teach children never to swim alone.
