This conversation is sponsored by Emler Swim School, all opinions are my own.
May is Water Safety Month. Since swimming is a BIG deal around our house, I like to take the time to share with my readers why it’s so important to make sure that families are familiar with water safety measures. Did you know that drowning is the #1 reason for accidental death of children under 5 in the USA? That is a horribly sad statistic (poolsafely.gov). Swimming pools are the most common site for drownings in children under 4 (safekids.org). That means that this absolutely can happen right in your own back yard. There are many ways that you can make sure that your family is safe around the water.
- Visual Supervision
An adult should be in the water with children who are not comfortable swimmers at all times. Even with children who are confident swimmers there should alwasy be an adult watching. Adults should leaen how to recognize a swimmer in trouble.
- Learn to Swim
All ages should be confident in the water. Enroll in a formal swim lesson through your local swim school to learn the basics. Start kids as early as possible in swim lessons, Emler Swim School offers their Bathtime Babies class for children as young as 2 months!
- Wear Life Jackets
Wearing a properly fitted life jacket or personal flotation device (pfd) can reduce the risk of drowning. This is applicable to swimmers, boaters, and users of kayaks, jet skis, or other personal watercraft. Weak or non-swims should wear a PFD near all bodies of water, do not use foam or air-filled toys, (e.g. floaties, water wings, inner tubes, noodles), in place of a U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket.
- Barriers Around Water
Residential (home) swimming pools are the most common sites of drowning for children ages 1-4. Pools and spas should have 4-sided isolation fencing at least four feet in height, with self-closing and self-latching gates.
- Childproof Your Home
Any area with standing water is a danger. Never leave a child unattended in a bathtub, near filled ice chests or buckets. Any water filled areas are a risk
- Check Water Sources First
Any time a child is missing, check any water source first. Children can sink to the bottom of a body of water quickly and there is no time to loose.
- Teach Drain Safety
Teach children to never play or swim near pool or spa drains. Drain entrapement is a danger for small children and weaker swimmers.
- Teach Open Water Safety
While all water is dangerous, open water has unpredictable dangers such as plant life (entanglement), currents and under tows. Teach children (and adults) to always swim with a buddy. Swim where life guards are present.
- Learn CPR
You never know when you can use this life saving skill. Drowning is one only of many emergencies that CPR is helpful for. Find a local American Heart Association or Red Cross CPR class and get trained TODAY!
Our children’s safety is important to all of use, help make our homes and communities safer by following this water safety guidelines. For more information regarding water safety visit Colin’s Hope. Click the box below to print our free Water Watcher tags.
Mention you heard about Emler Swim School from Life Anchored blog and receive one pair of swim pants for free when you sign up for any of their classes. All classes eligible including the FREE Bathtime Babies class! #iswimemler
