It’s now officially summer. For kids, that means spending hot summer days cooling off in water.
Whether it’s in a pool, at the beach, on a boat or at a water park, there are many things we parents need to do to make sure kids are safe while enjoying fun in the summer sun.
Unfortunately, summer fun and water can be a dangerous combination. According to the site, KidsHealth.org, drowning is the second most common cause of death from injuries for kids under 14 years old. Here are some tips to keep your kids safe when they hit the pool or beach:
Supervise Adult supervision is key in keeping kids safe. No matter how good a swimmer a child is, or how many other children he or she is swimming with, an adult should be watching your child swim at all times.
Set Rules Make sure your child knows there are rules to follow when it comes to having summer fun. Your child should never swim alone and only swim when an adult is present. Make sure your child knows there are rules in place that must be followed and that their purpose is to keep them as safe as possible.
Only Swim in Designated Swim Areas Lakes and rivers can have unseen dangers, such as rocks, other submerged objects, or dangerous currents. Only allow your children to swim in areas that are created for the purpose of swimming.
Lifejackets for Everyone When we go boating, everyone must wear a lifejacket—even us adults. The kids we take must put on their lifejackets on shore — not on the dock or pier. Why on shore? Small children can fall in water and sink within seconds. Some lakes we visit are murky, which means someone can disappear beneath the surface very quickly. We adults wear our jackets also to set an example. People sometimes complain of lifejackets not being comfortable to wear for an entire afternoon, but when I wear my properly-fitted kayaking lifejacket, I often forget it’s even on! Also, some municipalities have free life jacket rentals for kids. Our local fire department lets parents check out lifejackets for kids for a week at a time (like checking out a library book). And inflatable toys or inner tubes are no substitute for life jackets! For more info on lifejackets, check out the U.S. Coast Guard’s lifejacket page.
Swim Lessons A good investment for any family. Your local park district or YMCA offers classes at reasonable rates. Not only will kids get more used to the water with lessons, but they’ll learn about water safety and have a blast too!
Have fun this summer, but also stay safe! Respect the water and weather conditions and enjoy!
To learn more about water safety, check out Bobber, a fun site that teaches kids about being safe on the water with activities, coloring pages and more!
