According to the CDC, drowning is the leading cause of death for children between the ages of 1-4 and the third among children ages 5-19. Black children tend to die from drowning at a rate of 1.5 times higher than their white counterparts. While the country is reaching excessive heat numbers and more and more people are heading to the pool, how can we protect our children? Well, one survival swim expert has four tips that can help.
No “learn to swim” devices in pools
According to expert, Liz Huber, self-rescue instructor and the founder of the CAST Water Safety Foundation, floaties and “puddle jumpers,” although fun, are a no-go in the pool. These items tend to delay the learn-to-swim process, creating a false sense of confidence in children. Trade-in the pool noodles for U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets. Huber states in her article for motherly.com, that if an adult needs to be in the water at all times. If an adult is there, there is no need for these “learn to swim” devices.
Supervision should be engagement
Pool-side supervision should mean engagement, not just standing next to the pool while children are in it swimming. Parents can get distracted and a fatal accident can happen in the blink of an eye. If you are not in the pool, no one is!
According to the AAP, each year, close to 70% of small children who drowned did so during non-swim time.
Swim lessons and water competency are vital
Make sure that if a child is going to be in the water, then they have taken or are taking proper swim lessons. Huber recommends that children go beyond basic swim lessons to include self-rescue lessons. Self-rescue lessons give children a life-preserver of sorts to, if needed, potentially save their lives should the unspeakable happen and they get in trouble. Self-rescue lessons teach children to find their float from various positions, even if they are fully clothed.
Remember, if there is a parent of a swimmer that can’t swim themselves, swim lessons isn’t just for the little ones.
Only swim if you have backup
If you are outnumbered and don’t have back-up parents to help assist you in the pool, skip it. Break out the sprinkler, slip and slide, splash pad, or even just the water hose. Children will have fun in the water whatever form it comes and and you can relax and watch them play, knowing that everyone is indeed safe!
The pool can unquestionably be fun for all ages, but remember, safety trumps fun, even in the triple digit summer.
