Summer is coming and so is bathing suit season! If you are anything like my family, you can’t wait to hit the beaches or swimming pools this summer. But…being aware of your surroundings is key to keeping everyone safe.
Growing up, I never was big into swimming. In fact, I don’t even know how to swim…that well. When I enter a swimming pool, the thought of water approaching my shoulders and chin gives me the chills. Once I had kids, I was determined to make sure they were placed into swimming lessons and excelled at something I never mastered. Here are some facts and tips around water safety that I think are important to know as a parent of young kids.
The Hard Facts
Among preventable injuries, drowning is the leading cause of death for children 1 – 4 years old. Children less than a year old are more likely to drown at home in the bathroom or a bucket.
Top Tips
- Watch kids when they are in or around water, without being distracted. Keep young children within arm’s reach of an adult.
- Empty all tubs, buckets, containers and kiddie pools immediately after use. Store them upside down so they don’t collect water.
- Close toilet lids and use toilet seat locks to prevent drowning. Keep doors to bathrooms and laundry rooms closed.
- Install fences around home pools. A pool fence should surround all sides of the pool and be at least four feet tall with self-closing and self-latching gates.
- Know what to do in an emergency. Learning CPR and basic water rescue skills may help you save a life.
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