Fact: drowning kills more children ages 1 to 4 than anything else other than birth defects.
Small children can drown in as little as an inch or two of water, and it can happen quickly. The biggest threat for families with toddlers is unsupervised access to water like swimming pools, hot tubs, bathtubs, ponds, and lakes. Protecting your children from water hazards where you live and where you visit is crucial — know your surroundings and never leave your child unattended around water.
Here are ten safety tips to help keep your family safe in and around water:
- Learn CPR and safe rescue techniques.
- Young children should always be within arm’s reach of a parent or designated adult if they’re around water.
- Children should take swim lessons as soon as possible to learn the basics of floating and being comfortable in the water.
- Watch your children at all times — drowning happens quickly and quietly, adults watching kids in or near water should avoid distracting activities.
- Never swim close to piers or pilings because sudden water movements may push kids or parents into them.
- At the beach, look for posted signs about rip currents, jellyfish or shark warnings, and other hazards.
- All home pools should be completely fenced-in with self-latching gates.
- Wear life jackets in and around natural bodies of water, such as lakes or the ocean, even if they know how to swim.
- Never leave a filled, open container of water unattended: buckets, baby pools, coolers, etc.
- In the home, use safety latches or doorknob covers to keep children from entering bathrooms unattended.
We all want to keep our children safe and secure and we hope these tips are helpful as you enjoy time with your family at the pool, beach, lake or just at home.
If you have any questions or would like to sign up for our next CPR class, call Children’s Medical Center. Your child’s safety is our number one priority.
Palm Harbor (727) 787-6335
West Chase (813) 891-6501
Trinity (727) 376-8404
Lutz (813) 751-3131
