One of the greatest gifts in learning to swim is enjoying time as a family swimming. Unfortunately, 9 out of 10 drowning deaths happen when a caregiver is supervising but not paying attention. Caregivers should follow these safety tips when in aquatic settings.
- SUPERVISION WITHOUT DISTRACTION IS KEY.
Constant adult supervision is key to preventing accidents around the water and no child should ever be left unattended around pools or open water. Children should only be near the pool when there is a responsible adult watching the pool.
- ENSURE YOUR POOL HAS FOUR-SIDED FENCING WITH SELF-CLOSING OR SELF-LATCHING LOCKS.
Four sided isolation fencing in every pool could prevent 50-90% of childhood drownings and near drownings.
- ENROLL YOUR CHILDREN IN A LEARN-TO-SWIM PROGRAM.
Swim lessons save lives. Even toddlers can learn basic swimming skills that they can use if they ever end up in the water. And a good swim program will always teach safer behaviors for children and families around the pool.
- CAREGIVERS SHOULD LEARN HOW TO SWIM, BE COMFORTABLE IN ALL AQUATIC SETTINGS, AND LEARN TO ADMINISTER CPR IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY.
Preparation is needed to avoid incidents in the water. Reduce the risk during an emergency by learning emergency response techniques.
- CAREGIVERS AND CHILDREN SHOULD ALWAYS WEAR A LIFE JACKET AROUND OPEN WATER, EVEN IF YOU KNOW HOW TO SWIM.
Even if an adult feels comfortable in the water, a life jacket or flotation device gives an extra layer of protection and confidence in the event of an emergency. confidence in the event of an emergency.
The Wendy Fereday Swim School recently shared with us a letter they received from swim mom Erin. “We took the boys to our pool in the neighborhood for a quick swim yesterday evening to get out some bedtime energy. Decker and Jax were playing with an inflatable water polo goal they recently got. Ames, age 3, went to check it out and I had my eyes on him the whole time from where I was sitting. He leaned over at the edge of the pool and reached too far in the water and fell in head first in the pool. I instantly got up from my chair and ran to help him (I was close enough where I knew I could get to him if I needed to) but I stopped at the edge of the pool because I could see him do the “turn around and save yourself” routine. He was kicking his legs and reaching to the edge of the pool just like you’ve taught him since he was tiny! After he grabbed the edge of the pool, he started to pull himself out of the pool and he was crying. I hugged him and told him “Ames, you did it. You turned around and saved yourself!” He kept crying and saying “I fell in the pool” and I just kept saying over and over again “you turned around and saved yourself” and gave him lots of big hugs. Then the boys came over and told him good job for saving himself and he got so proud of himself.”