Essential Swimming Safety Tips For Kids

Essential Swimming Safety Tips For Kids

While no one likes to think about it, drowning is the most common cause of injury-related child death, so you can never be too careful when your kids will be in or near a pool or other body of water.
Keep these essential tips in mind to help your little swimmers stay safe!

Make sure someone is always on kid duty

Any time kids are playing in or near water, even very shallow water, there must be a designated adult on “lifeguard duty” at all times.
This person must be willing and able to keep an eye on the water at all times and be capable and ready to jump in and help if a swimmer is in distress.
It is critically important that this person not be under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, and not at risk of dozing off in the lawn chair in the summer heat!
Ideally, any adults who will be responsible for children who are swimming should be CPR certified, as well.

Use life jackets and floaties (the right way!)

While you should never rely on arm floaties (or any other floating swim gear) as a life-saving device, they are amazing for helping kids build confidence in the water as they learn to swim.
And they do give an extra floatation boost, which can make staying afloat much easier.
Especially in families with very young children, multiple kids in the pool, or those who haven’t mastered solo swimming yet, try enforcing safety rules such as “all kids must put on floaties or a life jacket before getting in the pool.”
Knowing your children will have an easier time keeping themselves afloat as they practice swimming can give you some peace of mind.
And don’t forget about pool noodles, rafts, kickboards, and inflatable unicorns! Again, all children’s floatation devices must only be used under close adult supervision.

Keep your pool super secure

If you have a pool at home it’s critical that you maintain a high, secure fence around it with a gate that is locked at all times.
Most swimming pool drowning deaths occur when kids wander out to the pool area without an adult even realizing it.
Consider installing an alarm on the doors of your home if you have a pool or live alongside a body of water.
This way you will be alerted immediately if a little one tries to sneak outside unnoticed.

Teach your children to swim from an early age

Teaching kids to swim as early in life as possible could potentially save their life one day.
Of course, even children who know how to swim must always be supervised.
But if your child is strong and confident in the water, they are more likely to be able to get back to shore on their own if they need to.
Quality swim lessons will go over water safety as well as technique.
But even if your child is enrolled in lessons, take it upon yourself to go over your family’s pool safety rules as often as necessary.

Swimming can be an incredibly fun and rewarding activity for kids, but safety must always be your number one priority!
From life vest rules to keeping your home pool completely secured, always follow these guidelines and choose to err on the side of caution when it comes to kids and water safety.

Essential Swimming Safety Tips For Kids,
Written by :
Dani Merriot , blogger for babyfloaties.com