Keep kids water safe

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With temperatures hitting triple digits lately, more children are anxious to be outside playing in the water—swimming pools, lakes, beaches and water parks—as water-related recreational opportunities again become more available. Sales of inflatable swimming pools for home use have risen. Along with social distancing and taking other safety precautions related to COVID-19, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service experts want people to remember the importance of water safety, especially for younger children.

According to Safe Kids Worldwide, drowning is the leading cause of unintentional and preventable death in children ages 1-4. Children in this age range are more likely to drown in a pool, while children 5 years old and older are more likely to drown in open water, such as a lake, creek or river.

Whether it’s a backyard pool or the ocean, parents can help ensure their children are protected by following some basic safety tips:

• Always keep children within an arm’s reach. Pay close attention to a child’s whereabouts if near water and avoid any personal distractions. When there’s a child around water, especially a toddler, bad things can happen in a matter of seconds. It’s important to avoid any distractions, especially since a small child can drown in as little as an inch of water.

• Give children swimming lessons as soon as they are ready. This is dependent on age, physical development and the frequency with which the child is expected to be in or around water. According to Tex as A&M AgriLife Extension specialists, parents can begin introducing their children to water as early as 6 months old.

• Teach children essential survival skills. These include floating to treading water, staying close to the shore, being able to return to the surface after getting in water over their head, turning in circles to find an exit and how to properly exit the water.

From the first time you teach your children to swim, make sure they know to never go near water unless an adult is with them. Even older, more experienced swimmers should still swim with a partner to help ensure their safety, especially in open water.

Young people who plan to swim in open water need to be taught about sharp or uneven surfaces, marine life, riptides, currents, undertow and other possible dangers that may cause drowning.

“Be vigilant and watch the weather as you swim, as it can be dangerous to swim while it’s raining or if there is a thunderstorm in the area. Also be aware of boats and other swimmers in the area,” Cari Snider, AgriLife Extension specialist and program director of the Texas 4-H Conference Center in Brownwood, said.

Snider also recommended small children wear a personal flotation device if in open water, as boat traffic may cause wakes that are tall enough to submerge a smaller swimmer. Children also need to know about the risks of being entangled in or trapped by a drain grate or suction outlet in a pool, she said. Regularly check to make sure drain covers are secure and have no cracks.

One of the best things a parent or guardian can do to help protect a child in the event of a water-related emergency is to learn CPR.

“A number of locations, including the Red Cross, hospitals, fire departments and recreation departments, offer CPR training,” Snider said. “Learn CPR and have your children learn it as well. It will provide peace of mind and is a skill that could someday save a life.”

CLOSING THOUGHT

“To be the best, you must be able to handle the worst.” —unknown