How to Practice Water Safety This Summer
How to Practice Water Safety This Summer
This summer, have fun in the sun and stay safe in the water! Here are a few tips for caregivers and parents to keep kids safe this summer.
Quick Facts:
Drowning is the number one cause of injury death in children ages 1-4.- Nearly 70% of drownings among children under four occur during non-swim times.
- Bathtubs are the most common location of drownings inside the home, and more than half of bathtub deaths involve children less than one year old.
Drowning is almost always silent, and it only takes seconds.
This summer, we want to highlight the importance of water safety and drowning prevention.
Minimizing unplanned and unsupervised access to water is crucial in preventing water incidents in children. By utilizing “layers of protection” near bodies of water, you can ensure that young people and adults alike are safe from accidental drowning. For children with physical, emotional or cognitive disabilities, prevention is especially important. The risk of drowning is significantly higher for neurodivergent children;
the risk of drowning doubles
for children diagnosed with a dual diagnosis of autism and Down syndrome.
When we talk about layers of protection around water, we’re referring to multiple ways of ensuring that a child is being supervised and monitored around bodies of water.
Here are six inclusive layers of protection for parents and caregivers to practice:
- Protective Barriers & Gear - Fencing, self-latching gates, pool covers, life jackets
- Alarms & Safeguards - Door and gate alarms, remove toys from pool, empty baby pools and tubs after use
- Swimming Lessons - Start swimming lessons as soon as possible.
- Supervision - Always supervise your child and stay at arm’s length at all times without distractions.
- Education - Teach your child about safety rules, safe areas to swim, and CPR. For children with special needs, use social stories or adaptive methods.
- Don’t Swim Alone - Teach your child to always be with a trusted adult before entering water. Use visual schedules to help them know when it is time for swimming.
Protective Barriers and Gears
One of the most effective ways to prevent drowning is by installing a pool fence. Securing pools with fences, self-latching gates and pool covers adds barriers of protection for unsupervised children.
Alarms and Safeguards
Add safety gates, door locks and covers to all areas accessible to pools or other bodies of water. Also consider additional precautions such as pool alarms and automatic pool covers that cover the pool completely.
Swimming Lessons
Teaching children how to swim is a crucial part of water safety. For many children with special needs, adaptive swim lessons can be lifesaving. Organizations such as
Swim Angelfish, offer instruction that focuses on teaching children how to be safe around water, and how to float if they fall in. All PMC swim instructors are Certified Angelfish instructors.
Supervision
Always assign one adult to be a “water watcher”, to supervise children around water. Design a system so that one caregiver is always responsible for monitoring pools, ponds, or other bodies of water. Use life jackets around lakes and rivers, even if children are just playing nearby. With very small children, especially those who are not confident swimmers, always stay within arm’s reach and never allow children in the pool alone.
Education
Teach your child about safety rules, safe areas to swim, and CPR. If you have a pool at home, teach all children and guests to notify or confirm with an adult before entering the pool area. For children with special needs, use social stories or adaptive methods. Make sure other caregivers are aware of the risks, especially for children under the age of four. Parents and caregivers should know how to perform CPR and what steps to take in an emergency.
Don’t Swim Alone
Teach your child to always be with a trusted adult before entering water. Use visual schedules to help them know when it is time for swimming.
No child is too young to learn about water safety.
Teaching your children how to be safe around water can start at any age. If you are interested in learning more, please check out the NDPA's water safety checklist; this PDF document is also available for download to share with caregivers and family members.
For more information on our inclusive swim lessons at PMC, please contact us for scheduling and availability.
