Summer and swimming go hand-in-hand like sunshine and sunscreen! Whether you’re headed to the pool, beach, or lake, swimming and splashing in the water is one of the most iconic parts of the summer months.
But with all that fun comes a big responsibility: keeping your kids safe while they swim.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning is the number one cause of death for kids ages 1 to 4. That’s why water safety is so essential.
The good news is that with some safety habits in place, you can help protect your kids and make swimming a fun and safe experience for everyone.
Choose the right swimsuit
The color of a swimsuit matters. Alive Solutions, a company that specializes in water safety, found that certain swimsuit colors are more visible underneath the water.
Cool tones, such as blue, green, and grey, blend in with the color of the water, especially in lakes and oceans, which means kids wearing these colors are more difficult to see.
Bright colors, like yellow, orange, and red, stand out more both in pools and open water. That extra visibility can make a big difference in spotting a child quickly.
Use safety gear
Many kids use inflatable pool noodles or arm floaties while swimming. These pool toys are fun, but they aren’t designed to save lives and may give parents and kids a false sense of security. When swimming at home, keep safety tools, such as a life preserver ring or a rescue pole, nearby.
When boating or swimming in open water, kids should always wear a life jacket. Younger and less confident swimmers should also wear life jackets in pools for extra security.
When choosing a life jacket, look at the label to make sure it’s Coast Guard-approved and suitable for your child’s size. A life jacket with a proper fit should feel snug but not too tight and allow for comfortable breathing and movement.
To test if a life jacket is a good fit, lift your child by the shoulders of the jacket. If the life jacket stays in place, it’s a good fit. If the life jacket rides up over their head or touches their ears, it’s too big.
Additional safety features you may want to look for in a life jacket include an extra-large collar to support your child’s head, a safety strap between the legs to prevent the jacket from slipping, and a grab strap located at the collar.
Enroll your kids in swimming lessons
Swimming is an important life skill for anyone to have, and taking lessons is essential for water safety. Even if your kids already know how to swim, formal lessons will make them stronger swimmers and teach them what to do if something goes wrong. Studies show that kids who take swimming lessons are less likely to drown by as much as 88%.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children can start taking swimming lessons as early as age one, depending on their physical and developmental abilities and their comfort level in the water.
By 4 years old, most children are ready for swimming lessons and can learn basic water survival skills such as floating and treading water.
Through swimming lessons, kids should learn vital lessons like how to get back to the surface from underwater, propel themselves at least 25 yards, and exit the water.
Supervise your kids when swimming
One of the most important ways to keep your kids safe in the water is to supervise them and stay on the lookout for signs of drowning.
If you’re sunbathing at the beach or hanging out by the side of the pool, you may be tempted to pull out a phone or book to keep yourself entertained, but distractions can make it easy to miss the subtle signs of a child in danger.
People tend to think of drowning as loud, with a lot of splashing and cries for help. However, drowning can actually happen quickly and silently, and it is more common than most families realize. A drowning person will be struggling to keep their face above water level, and it can take only 30 to 60 seconds before they’re completely submerged.
Even if there’s a lifeguard on duty, they have a lot of swimmers to watch, so you shouldn’t assume they’ll notice if something goes wrong. If you’re the adult in charge of watching the kids and you need to step away to use the restroom or for any other reason, make sure you tell another adult before you go.
Swimming at home? If you have a pool in your backyard, it’s recommended that you put fencing on all sides so kids can’t get in the water without you knowing. The Consumer Product Safety Commission found that 69% of children under 5 years old who experienced drowning were not expected to be in the water when it happened.
Be prepared for emergencies
It’s never easy to think about worst-case scenarios, but a little preparation goes a long way. If a child stops breathing after a water-related incident, every second counts, and a trained adult can begin CPR right away.
You may want to have your family take a CPR or first aid class through a local hospital or community center. The American Red Cross can help you find a class near you or online.
You should also bring a fully charged phone to the pool, beach, or lake in case you need to call for help. Just make sure you keep it in a dry, easily accessible place so you can grab it quickly in an emergency.
Before swimming, go over basic safety rules with your kids. Remind them not to run near the water and to stop and look before jumping in. Talking about safety ahead of time helps kids build good habits in and around the water.
Swimming should be fun, not stressful! By staying informed and involved, you can help keep your kids safe in the water. A little preparation goes a long way in preventing accidents. With just a few simple steps, your family can focus on what really matters: making great summer memories together!
