With schools out for the summer and temperatures rising across the country, many families head to the beach, lake or local pool. Now is the time to look at safety tips to keep kids safe around water.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning is the leading cause of death among children ages 1 to 4 and the second leading cause of unintentional death among children ages 5 to 14.
According to Gary Karton of Safe Kids Worldwide, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing childhood injuries, 973 children under the age of 19 drowned in the United States in 2021, and another 6,500 were treated in the emergency room after near-drowning accidents.
In fact, more people drown in the summer, and especially in July, than at any other time of the year, according to the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.
Daniel Barnickel, a lifeguard with Palm Beach County Ocean Rescue, said an adult should always keep an eye on the water.
“The general rule is: never swim alone,” he said.
It can be beneficial for children and their parents to take the time to review safety precautions and rules before going to the pool or beach.
If you have a pool in the garden
The most important safety feature of a backyard swimming pool is a barrier, such as a safety fence, to prevent unsupervised access to the water.
Many children who drowned at home did so at times when they weren’t supposed to be in the water, according to the American Red Cross. In some cases, the children were out of sight and in the care of one or both parents for less than five minutes when they slipped into the pool and drowned, the organization said.
Nevertheless, it is important that children learn to swim. There are many programs that teach children to swim, including swimming lessons run by the Red Cross in the USA
If a child goes missing, remember that every second counts. Safety experts advise checking the water first. It’s also important to have appropriate equipment at home. This includes something the child can throw into the water so they can hold on to, a cell phone to call for help, life jackets and a first aid kit.
NBC 6’s Chernéy Amhara spoke to a neighbor and the victim’s great aunt about the child.
Skills children should learn to prevent drowning
According to Safe Kids Worldwide, all children should learn to step or jump into water above their head and return safely to the surface, as well as be able to float on or tread water.
You should also be able to turn quickly in the water and find a safe place, combine breathing with forward movement in the water, and get out of the water.
Create a safe environment
If several adults are with a group of children at the pool, beach or lake, choose a water monitor who can keep an eye on the children at all times. Experts at Safe Kids Worldwide recommend rotating the water monitor among adults for short periods of time, such as every 15 minutes.
When in a pool or near water, it is advisable to avoid distractions. Put away phones, books and magazines, as drowning is often silent and can happen in less than five minutes.
When you’re finished swimming, be sure to remove all flotation devices and pool toys so small children aren’t tempted to grab them.
Teach children to stay away from pool drains or suction devices that can catch swimmers’ hair or limbs.
Since 2014, all public pools and spas in the United States have been required to comply with the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act. The act was named after a 7-year-old girl who died in 2002 when she was caught in the powerful suction of a hot tub drain. Her mother lobbied Congress to require drain covers and other safety precautions for swimming pools.
But despite these safety features, experts recommend checking drains and fixtures before children go into the pool.
More water safety tips
Always swim with a partner or in an area supervised by a lifeguard.
“Be careful not to overestimate your abilities,” said Barnickel. “Know your limits.”
Have small or inexperienced children wear life jackets approved by the U.S. Coast Guard. The size of the life jacket should be based on the child’s height and weight. Never substitute life jackets for water wings or inflatable swim rings.
It is best to keep your children within reach of an adult at all times in the water and teach them to always ask permission when approaching the water.
Enforce safety rules, such as no running or pushing on the edge of the pool and no dunking people in the water. It’s also a good idea to discourage them from chewing gum or eating while swimming or jumping in the water.
Experts also recommend making sure children know the water depth so they don’t jump into shallow water and injure themselves.
Open water, such as the sea or a lake, is something completely different from a swimming pool in the garden.
Children need to understand that visibility in the ocean and lakes can be limited and the water surface uneven, and they need to be educated about currents and undercurrents that can pull them underwater and away from the shore.
“Year after year, rip currents claim more lives in South Florida than all weather-related hazards combined,” Barnickel said. “We’ve seen locals here who have been going to the beach their whole lives and have never been caught in a rip current, or they think they have been and know what to do. And then they get caught in a rip current. We go out and get them, and they say, ‘I can’t believe that happened.'”
When at a beach or lake, it’s important to use designated swimming or recreation areas. Pay attention to signs warning of water hazards and the times when lifeguards are present.
