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Having Safe Fun In The Sun With Your Kids As soon as the thermometer hits 70°F my kids are breaking out their bathing suits and grabbing their beach toys. Whether it's at a friend's pool or the local beach, summer days seem to fly by when we're all swimming together. Having lived in California most of our lives, my husband and I love the beach and wanted to instill a love of swimming in our children. But every year we seem to read another tragic story about a toddler or young child drowning in a swimming pool or at the beach. So, while I never want my kids to be fearful of the water, I want to be sure I'm providing a safe environment and teaching them how to have safe fun in the sun.
Beaches
can pose other issues for safety as well. Make sure
you read any posted surf warning and have children swim
only in areas where lifeguards are on duty. Have your
child wear water shoes to protect them from hot sand
and sharp objects. Older kids who are swimming by themselves
should understand the dangers of the undertow and what
to do if they get caught in it (swim parallel to shore
until you get past the affected area - don't try to
swim against it!) Here again, set up the buddy system
whenever possible.
Used
by permission
Copyright Peek-a-Boo BabyProofing, Inc. 2006 |
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The
highest priority in water safety is constant parental
supervision. Drowning can occur in less than 5 minutes,
the time it takes to answer the phone or check on another
child. If you need to leave, assign another adult to
watch your child. Never assume someone else is watching
her! And if your child is missing, immediately check
the pool - moments could mean the difference between
safety and a tragedy. Keep a cordless phone with you
at all times and a list of emergency numbers posted
at the side of the pool. If you are at a pool party,
establish a buddy system whereby each child is paired
up with another. Every 5 to 10 minutes, yell "Buddy
check!" and the buddies need to find each other.
Many parents use flotation devices for their younger
children who do not yet know how to swim or are not
strong swimmers. This is not a good idea as it may give
parents a false sense of security in regards to the
child's safety and may also encourage children to venture
into deeper water than they might normally feel comfortable
doing. Do not assume, however, that if your child has
had swim lessons she could not drown. 
When
it comes to your pool, your toddler is not going to
understand the inherent dangers. It is up to you to
completely safeguard the pool. A fence should be installed
completely around the perimeter. One that surrounds
the entire deck or backyard is too large and not close
enough to protect the pool. The fence should not have
any foot or handholds and be sure there are no objects
such as lawn chairs or riding toys around the fence
that your child could use as leverage to climb over.
If your house opens right onto the pool, the doors leading
from the house to the pool should be protected with
an alarm. A power safety cover should also be installed.
Be sure this cover meets the requirements of the American
Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) pool cover
standard that addresses labeling requirements and performance.
If you have an above-ground pool, the steps and ladders
leading to the pool should be secured and locked or
removed when the pool is not in use. Make sure there
are no toys near the pool which could entice your child
to jump in.