Water Safety: Tips to Keep Kids Out of Danger

By Kara Sibilia

Summer vacation - it’s almost here! The time of year where the days are long and the weather is great. With school being out, we are no doubt planning family trips to the beach, lake or pool. While preparing for the fun things that go along with being near the water, we also have to prepare for potential risks - drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages 1 to 14 years*.

Last month, the American Red Cross surveyed more than 1,000 adults on water safety, half of which said they’ve had an experience where they nearly drowned in their lifetime. The survey also shows that over 90% of families with young children will be in the water at some point this summer, almost half (48%) plan to swim in a place with no lifeguard.

The Red Cross recommends the following water safety tips:
• Always swim with a buddy in a supervised area.
• Check the water first, if someone is missing.
• If someone is in the water and needs help, reach or throw something out to them - don’t go in unless you are trained.
• Know how and when to call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number.
• Enroll in Red Cross water safety, first aid and CPR courses to learn what to do.
According to Safe Kids Worldwide, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the prevention of unintentional childhood injury, children can drown in as little as 1 inch of water — and it can happen in an instant. Safe Kids offers preventative tips such as:
• Empty all buckets, containers and wading pools immediately after use. Store them upside-down and out of children’s reach.
• Pay attention to open water. Be aware of undercurrents and changing waves and undertows when at the ocean or lake.
• Do not let children dive into water unless the child has learned proper diving techniques, an adult is present and the depth of the water is greater than 9 feet.
• Children with marginal mobility should not be left unattended in a tub or other body of water regardless of age or presumed ability.
For additional water safety tips and parents’ checklist, go to www.usa.safekids.org or www.redcross.org.

*www.redcross.org
Additional sources: www.usa.safekids.org, www.webmd.com

Kara Sibilia, mother of one, is a freelance writer based in New Jersey . To contact Kara, please email kara_sibilia@yahoo.com.


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