As summer approaches, many families will be taking a trip to the pool or beach to cool off. While it's an excellent way to beat the heat, it's crucial to remember that drowning
can happen to anyone, even excellent swimmers.
In fact, drowning is the leading cause of accidental death among the 1 to 4-year-old age group.
To help prevent these needless drownings, let's talk about the "Seven Layers of Protection."
First, it's always crucial that your child has a designated water watcher with them at all times. This person's sole responsibility is to keep an eye on the child.
Ideally, adults should rotate and take turns as the designated 'water watchers' - their only responsibility is to keep an eye on swimmers in the pool.
Second, installing a high fence or barrier around the pool can ensure that unsupervised children can't get near the water and is our second layer of protection.
Third, consider using alarms for doors, windows, and the pool area to alert you if your child sneaks out to the pool without your knowledge.
Fourth, make sure that every member of your family learns to swim. Children can learn this critical life skill at an age.
Fifth, ensure everyone wears a life jacket when boating. This practice is especially essential for young children learning to become competent swimmers.
It's also important to note that life jackets and other floatation devices like puddle jumpers are designed to help keep children afloat in water.
Although
true, they should not be used as a substitute for adult supervision. In addition, children wearing floaties still need to be watched closely, as they can easily slip out of them or become unbalanced.
In fact, studies have shown that nearly half of all child drownings occur when parents are present but not paying attention.
Another reason to supervise
children closely is that they may develop a false sense of security when wearing floaties. As a result, they may think they are safe to play in the water without adult supervision.
This unwarranted confidence can lead to dangerous situations like jumping into the pool without floaties.
It's important to remember that floaties are not a fail-safe way to
prevent drowning. The best way to keep children safe in the water is to supervise them closely and teach them how to swim.
Sixth, talk to your children about pool safety
rules and always enforce them. It will help prevent risky behavior around the water.
And finally, the seventh layer of protection is learning CPR. It's
a skill that every parent or babysitter should know in case of an emergency.
Let's ensure your child doesn't become another statistic. If you have any questions or concerns, reply to this email. Let's
work together to keep our children safe this year.
