5 Water Safety Tips for Children This Summer

Summer is a fun time, where as a parent you can’t wait to make all those memories that will last. Sadly it’s also a time when a lot of accidents happen. This week we will be touching on a few quick tips just to help out. So many times I get online or turn on the news to see some horrible story that a child has died, is missing or simply injured. Here are some ways to keep your children safe around water this summer.

Water safety

“Every day, about ten people die from unintentional drowning. Of these, two are children aged 14 or younger. Drowning ranks fifth among the leading causes of unintentional injury death in the United States.” (CDC)  Over 300 children drown in a pool every year. If you have a pool or plan to be around the water at all, then make sure you’ve got all security devices in place. All gates must be locked, and alarms installed, especially if you have non-swimming children at home.

Water Safety Rules for Children:

1. No running or horseplay near the pool. Teach them how to walk around it and how to get in.

2. No Adults present! No Kids in Water!  Kids can only swim with an adult watching them. Period!

3. Teach them to swim! If you have a child that doesn’t know how to swim sign them up for the basic swimming lessons class. If you can’t afford swimming lessons teach them water safety and the basic strokes yourself. But make sure they KNOW not to be alone in the water.

4. Live in an area where it rains a lot? If there is a chance of lightning, get out of the water until the weather risk passes.

5. If your children are swimming in the ocean make sure they follow the flag warnings. Each color (there are 8) means something different. If you do not know ask a lifeguard. Careful of tides they can happen quickly and pull a child/adult in.