Water Safety
Metropolitan Pediatrics wishes you and your family fun and safe water adventures this summer!
Protect your family this summer by taking water safety precautions. Remember: Never leave children unattended, even for an instant! A lifeguard or an adult with water rescue training should supervise children whenever they are in or around water.
Enroll your children in swimming lessons for exercise and also as an added safety measure. Research shows that children ages 1 to 4 are at a lower risk of drowning after completing swimming programs. However, you should not rely on your children’s swimming ability to protect them from water mishaps.
Before allowing your family members to swim in a pool or spa, inspect the drains to make sure they are covered adequately because suction can pull swimmers underwater. Do not allow entry into a pool or spa with broken or missing drain covers.
If you have a backyard pool, install a 4-foot surrounding fence to prevent unsupervised access. Pool gates should close and latch automatically after someone exits the enclosure. Store rescue equipment and a portable phone near the pool in case of emergency.
Swimming toys such as arm floaties or noodles are for recreational use and should not be treated as flotation devices. Life jackets should be worn whenever children or adults are near bodies of water. Ensure that life jackets fit properly – they should be snug with all straps secured per the instructions.
Instruct children not to dive into water unless an adult has checked for unseen objects and adequate depth and given the green light. Avoid swimming in bodies of water with strong currents. For your family’s protection, only allow ocean swimming when a lifeguard is present. Be sure to inform your children about ocean-related dangers, such as reefs, rip tides, and driftwood.
Source
“Summer Safety Tips – Sun and Water Safety” (American Academy of Pediatrics)
