Water safety tips for children

By Catalogs Editorial Staff

Avoid drowning and pool accidents with these simple rules

Whether your children are enjoying a day at the community pool or your family is holidaying at the beach, water safety tips for children should be on your mind. Knowing these tips and educating your children about them is one of the most important things you can do to ensure the members of your family do not become the victims of an accidental drowning or injury. Water sports, swimming, and playing on the beach are great family activities, but they also have the potential to turn deadly. Being aware of the many water safety tips for children and practicing them without fail is essential. Make sure that your children and the people who care for them know and practice the following. Teach your children to swim, but never assume that this skill will keep them safe. Make sure to tell your children that they still need to be careful around water even though they know how to float. Children often do not understand their susceptibility. It is the responsibility of parents to ensure they understand the dangers that can be involved when participating in water activities. It is also not a bad idea to keep certain rescue devices on hand when children are playing in or near the water.

Never leave children unsupervised around water. This includes water found in the home. Did you know that it is estimated that thirty to fifty toddlers and infants drown per year in buckets of water left unattended in the home? Children can drown in as little as one inch of water. Make sure not to leave buckets, bathtubs, coolers or any other water containers full unless an adult is in attendance. Plastic doorknobs and safety gates can keep small children out of the bathroom to avoid tub and toilet accidents. You can also buy lid fasteners for toilets to ensure your infant or toddler cannot get into yours. ~Most drowning accidents of children aged one to four happen in residential swimming pools. If you live in a home with a pool or even if you are visiting one, it is imperative that children are never left unattended, even older children who can swim. Constant supervision is required. Residential pools should have fences at least four feet high around them, with self-latching gates. You can also purchase alarms for swimming pools that will sound if there is movement in the water. Make sure that the children are wearing life jackets in case they accidentally fall into the water but do not depend on floatation devices to keep your children safe. Too often, we hear stories of children that drown in swimming pools while family members or friends are nearby. Never assume that someone is watching the children or that because they are wearing a life jacket that they will be safe.

Parents should take CPR and First Aid courses, and update them regularly. Knowing the water safety tips for children will add to the safety of your family, but accidents do happen. Make sure you are prepared and that you know what to do in the case of an emergency.

Water safety tips for children should be taught to older kids as well. Make sure your children know never to swim alone. A cramp, cold water or fatigue could cause even the best swimmers to fail in the water. Make sure your children know that they should never dive or jump into water that they are not familiar with. Rocks, shallow bottoms, weeds and other perils could cause serious injury and even death. Wading in is always the safest way to get into the water. In addition, make sure that your children know only to swim at public beaches when a lifeguard is on duty and that they do not venture out into deep water alone.

If your children are boating, ensure that they always wear a lifejacket. Whether they are riding in a ski boat or paddling a canoe, this is one of the most important rules of safe boating and one you should insist upon.

Teaching your family and loved ones these water safety tips for children is the best way to ensure that your family is safe while having fun in the water.Most drowning accidents of children aged one to four happen in residential swimming pools. If you live in a home with a pool or even if you are visiting one, it is imperative that children are never left unattended, even older children who can swim. Constant supervision is required. Residential pools should have fences at least four feet high around them, with self-latching gates. You can also purchase alarms for swimming pools that will sound if there is movement in the water. Make sure that the children are wearing life jackets in case they accidentally fall into the water but do not depend on floatation devices to keep your children safe. Too often, we hear stories of children that drown in swimming pools while family members or friends are nearby. Never assume that someone is watching the children or that because they are wearing a life jacket that they will be safe.

Teaching your family and loved ones these water safety tips for children is the best way to ensure that your family is safe while having fun in the water.