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With schools closed for the summer and temperatures rising across the country, many families will head to the beach, lake or local swimming pool. Now is the time to review safety tips to keep kids safe around water. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4 and the second leading cause of unintentional death for children ages 5 to 14.
In the United States, 973 children under the age of 19 drowned in 2021, and another 6,500 were treated in emergency rooms after drowning incidents, according to Gary Carton of Safe Kids Worldwide, a nonprofit organization that works to prevent childhood injuries. In fact, more drownings occur in the summer, and especially in July, than any other time of year, according to the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.
Palm Beach County Ocean Rescue lifeguard Daniel Barnickel said there should always be an adult supervising in the water. “Overall, never swim alone,” he said. Children and their parents can benefit from paying attention to safety procedures and rules before heading to the pool or beach.
If you have a pool in your backyard
The most important safety feature of a backyard swimming pool is a barrier, such as a safety fence, that prevents unsupervised access to the water. According to the American Red Cross, many children who drown at home drowned at times when they were not expected to be in the water. In some cases, the children were out of sight for less than five minutes and in the care of one or both parents when they slipped into the pool and drowned, the agency said.
That being said, it is important to make sure children learn to swim. There are many programs that teach children to swim, including Red Cross swimming courses across the US. If a child goes missing, remember that seconds matter. Safety experts recommend checking the water first. It is also important to have the appropriate equipment available at home. This includes something for the child to throw into the water, a cell phone to call for help, life jackets, and a first aid kit.
Children should learn these skills to avoid drowning
According to Safe Kids Worldwide, all children should learn to step or jump into water above their heads and return safely to the surface, and also swim or walk in water. They should also be able to move quickly in the water to find a safe place, move through the water, and get out of the water, as well as breathe.
Create a Safe Environment
If there are multiple adults with a group of children at the pool, beach or lake, choose a water watcher who can keep an eye on the children at all times. The experts at Safe Kids Worldwide recommend that it is a good idea to rotate the water watcher among the adults for short periods of time, such as at 15-minute intervals.
When in the pool or around water, it is advisable to avoid distractions. Put away phones, books and magazines, as drowning often occurs silently and can happen in less than five minutes. When you have finished swimming, put away all floats and pool toys so that young children are not tempted to pick them up.
Teach kids to stay away from pool drains or suction devices that can trap swimmers’ hair or limbs. Since 2014, all public pools and spas in the U.S. are required to comply with the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act, named after a 7-year-old girl who died in 2002 after getting caught in the strong suction of a hot tub drain. Her mother lobbied Congress to mandate drain covers and other pool safety features. But even with those safety elements, experts say it’s a good practice to check drains and equipment before kids get in the pool.
More Tips on Water Safety
Always swim with a partner or in an area supervised by a lifeguard. “Make sure you don’t overestimate your abilities,” Barnickel said. “Know your limits.” Have young or inexperienced children wear a life jacket approved by the U.S. Coast Guard. The life jacket should be sized for the child’s height and weight. Never use arm floaties or inflatable swimming rings for a life jacket.
The best approach is to keep children within arm’s reach of an adult at all times when in the water and teach them to always ask permission to go near the water. Enforce safety rules, including no running or pushing on the pool deck and no pushing people into the water. It’s also a good idea to prevent them from chewing or eating gum while swimming or jumping in the water.
Experts also recommend that children should know the depth of water so that they do not get injured by diving into shallow water.
Open water swimming
Open water, such as the ocean or lake, is very different from a backyard swimming pool. Children need to understand that oceans and lakes can have limited visibility and uneven surfaces. They also need to be taught about currents and undertow, which can pull them underwater and away from the shore.
“Every year in South Florida, rip currents kill more people than any other weather hazard combined,” Barnickel said. “We’ve seen locals come here who have been going to the beach their whole lives, and they’ve never been caught in a rip current, or they think they’re caught and they know what to do. And they get pulled into a rip current. We go out and catch them, and they say, ‘I can’t believe that happened.'”
When visiting the beach or lake, it is important to use designated areas for swimming or recreation. Pay attention to posted signs about water hazards, as well as the times when lifeguards will be present.
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