Summertime is all about being outside soaking up the sunshine, and spending time in the pool. However it is vital to remember about water safety. Drowning can occur in any body of water, including pools and bathtubs, and in just a few inches of water. Ensuring your child’s safety requires a different approach.
Always watch your child while they are near the pool. Never leave them unattended, even for a moment. If you have a pool, it must be fenced in to prevent unsupervised access. Ensure children wear life jackets when appropriate. Remember that lifeguards are there to protect and save, but they are not babysitters. Adult supervision remains the primary responsibility of the parent or guardian
Teaching your child how to be around water is a critical life skill. Swimming lessons are highly recommended. It is important to prepare your child for what to do if they accidentally fall into a pool. These steps can help them learn to save themselves
- Floating: Start in a shallow area. Hold your baby on their back with one hand behind their neck and the other under their lower back/butt. This gets them used to water in their ears and the sensation of floating.
- Encouragement: Once comfortable, remove the hand from under their butt. If their legs drop, guide them back up and encourage them to keep their “belly up” to stay afloat.
- Self-Floating: Slowly let go of the neck support, staying close to assist if they go under. Ensure their chin is up and head is back.
- Learning to Kick: Once floating by themselves, teach them to kick their legs while on their back. This enables them to move toward the wall or a safe exit point.
- Practicing Recovery: Have your child jump into the water, immediately raise their arms and kick to the surface, then transition to floating on their back to reach the wall.
In the event of an emergency, being prepared can save a life.
- Emergency Contacts: Keep the poison control number (800-222-1222) and emergency services (911) readily available.
- Rescue Actions: If an incident occurs, remove the person from the water immediately and call 911.
- CPR Knowledge: Knowing infant CPR is vital. If an infant is not breathing, start rescue breaths followed by chest compressions (30 compressions to 2 breaths) and continue until help arrives.
Keep a lookout for our Infant CPR and First Aid topic during our Parent Groups on Thursdays. To find out our topics check out our calendar on our website and our social media platforms!