Swimming Safety Tips
Here are some IMPORTANT things to remember when it comes to keeping babies and children safe when around water:
- Active supervision is the best tip of all; your undivided attention should be given to children in and around open bodies of water. An adult should always be in arms reach of a toddler or baby, no multitasking. Take turns watching the water with other adults if necessary, never walk away for any reason or any amount of time.
- Start slow with babies; babies can be introduced to water around 6 months of age, but this should happen slowly and with a trained adult. Use waterproof or swimming diapers and change them frequently.
- Educate kids about swimming safety; enroll kids in swimming lessons when ready. Make sure kids swim in designated areas only. Teach kids that open water swimming is different than in a pool. Even older kids should always swim with a partner and be sure to teach them to only swim when adults are present.
- Don’t rely on swimming aids; pool toys are fun but they should never be used in place of an S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device (PFD).
- Learn CPR; if you have a pool or take children swimming often, it is safer and you’ll have more peace of mind.
- Take extra steps around the pool; set rules like no running and be sure to have gates and fences. Empty refillable or portable pools without covers no matter how shallow, and install window or door alarms.
- Check the drains; educate kids about the dangers of drains, and always check for cracks or loose covers.
- Instill confidence in swimmers; even for inexperienced swimmers, proper positive reinforcement is important. But don’t overdo it – kids still need to be cautious!
Stay safer this summer by following these and more tips for swimming and water safety with your kids.