One of the main reasons why children die is drowning. Only birth abnormalities kill more children under the age of four. It ranks second only to car accidents in the number of unintentional deaths of children under the age of 15. Because raising awareness is the first step in preventing these avoidable tragedies, we are sharing these devastating numbers. It’s the ideal time to learn how to prevent drowning and the beginning of the busiest swimming season.
Also consider the prospect of bath drownings and what you can do to prevent them, perhaps think about the need to buy baby bath safety products.
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ABCs of Swim Safety: Supervision, Barriers, Classes
Make sure you’re doing everything in your power to promote safety and prevent accidents by using this straightforward A-B-C checklist.
Parental supervision is necessary during bathtime, pool time, and when you’re not even thinking about swimming. In fact, many adiults have had a close brush. It is often assumed that we would be informed if a child fell into a pool. But while looking away for just 2 seconds you might find your little one reaching out for a dopped toy in the pool and falling in. It can easily turn out much worse because is so much quieter and quick than you would expect. A toddler may give up resisting and submerge entirely in as little as 20 to 60 seconds.
Swimming Classes instruct children in safe behavior, life skills, and swimming practices. For all ages and experience levels, swim lessons are offered. Some institutions provide parent-and-infant lessons that help with water acclimation, motor skills, and floating for children as young as six months old. (Note: The American Academy of Pediatrics stresses that there is no research to back up the effectiveness of water safety programs for infants younger than one year old. However, a class that is adequately supervised and has engaged parents may still provide advantages without risk.)
Pool Fences, coverings, gates, and alarms that keep out little unwanted guests and unsupervised youngsters. Read about childproofing in-home spas and pools to learn more. Given how simple it is to unintentionally leave a gate open, self-closing and self-latching gates are extremely crucial.
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Swimming Lessons: How They Help & How They Don’t
In general, the better a swimmer is, the more probable it is that they will survive an accident like falling into the pool or slipping off a dock. If you can’t breathe, you can’t keep your head above water. When you can swim, you can pop back up, turn around, and get to the wall, ladder, or the closest exit point, even if it’s behind you. A sense of ease in the water and the capacity to float, both of which contribute to self-preservation, can be developed through swim training.
However, parents should not be fooled into believing that their children are secure because of their ability to swim. Even powerful swimmers can make mistakes, get exhausted, hurt, or get pulled under by outside forces like the pool apparatus, clothing, or horseplay. Accidents sometimes occur, and when they do, someone needs to be on hand to act.
Parents Should Know: Swimming, Signs of Drowning, CPR
It’s a terrible feeling to watch your child suffer and be powerless to intervene. So, if you can’t swim, at the very least, start learning right immediately. It’s never too late to learn how to swim; swim schools all around the country offer adult swim classes. It’s also advised for parents to become certified in CPR and first aid.
It’s also essential to become familiar with drowning symptoms. Every situation is unique, yet it never seems as it does in movies. Fatigued swimmers are typically unable to thrash, splash, or call for assistance. Instead, they swing their legs down and go vertical. They aren’t progressing. Their lips are at or barely above the water as they struggle for air. Small children who fall into the water without any strength or expertise tend to sink immediately. They may briefly bob or bounce due to the air in their lungs, but they quickly sink to the bottom.
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Water Safety Rules To Always Follow
Whenever you’re around the water, these rules apply to children and adults alike.
- Never swim alone or unsupervised. Adults must always keep an eye on children and shouldn’t go swimming by themselves.
- Avoid the group mentality that expects someone else will be minding the kids but, in actuality, no one ends up doing it at large gatherings or family barbecues. Choose a Water Watcher instead, working in shifts of even 15 to 30 minutes. That implies that you aren’t using your phone and aren’t making hamburgers, just seeing the children playing in the water.
- Keep toys away from the pool deck and refrain from playing there.
- Don’t jump in if you don’t know how deep the water is. Both overly deep and shallow water have the potential to physically overwhelm a person.
- Check the water first if a youngster disappears. If your child escapes and there is a pool, fountain, lake, or other body of water close by, start your search there before moving on.
- Inflatable novelty items like water wings are not made to save lives. An adult must always be within arm’s reach if a child is depending on them. If not, make sure children and those who cannot swim are wearing approved life jackets.
- Do not dive into the water after someone who is having trouble swimming if you are not a strong swimmer. Give them something to hold onto instead, or throw it to them, to help them stay afloat.
- While teens and adults are more likely to put themselves in danger by acting foolishly or showboating, small children are more prone to mishaps. When supervising older children, talk to them about these risks and be aware that they can arise.