In the middle of the summer heat, there is one place we want to be: in the water. we love dipping our toes in the water to cool off. While we all only want to think about the fun and good times, it’s important to not forget about water safety—and that first layer of protection is always supervision. These seven parent supervision tips below are by no means an exhaustive list but are key points designed to apply to multiple situations in or around bodies water, whether that’s at the pool, a lake or a water park or in the bathtub.
1. Prevent access to water when adults are not watching.
Whether it’s the pool, a hot tub, the bathtub or even toilets, make sure young children aren’t able to access that water without supervision. If you have a pool in your backyard, the American Academy of Pediatrics’ healthychildren.org advises that you make sure it’s completely surrounded by a fence that is at least 4 feet high, is not climbable and has a self-latching, self-closing gate. For example, D&D Technologies offers gates with audible and visual alarms.
You can also install covers on hot tubs and pools that are sturdy enough to support the weight of a child or multiple children.
When it comes to the bathroom, keep the door closed with a baby-proof door knob cover installed or put up a sturdy baby gate to prevent little ones from getting in. And get a toilet lock that keeps the lid down. This Munchkin Xtraguard Dual Locking Multi-Use Latch can be used in almost any instance.
2. Assign a water watcher.
Water safety plans should always include designating an adult water watcher who’s giving their undivided attention. Whether this be at home in the bathtub, at the pool (in your backyard, at a friend’s house or the community pool), at the beach, a lake or river, or at a water park.
Yes, this parent supervision tip should be enforced even if there is a lifeguard on duty. Lifeguards are not babysitters and cannot keep an eye on every child every minute, especially during the busy summer season.
The designated adult water watcher should be in reach of the children in the water at all times. This means the best place for the water watcher is in the water with the children when possible. At social gatherings, it’s a good idea to have 10 to 15-minute shifts for each water watcher so that no one adult misses out on conversations and socializing.
Download this water water tag from Safe Kids Worldwide, or send an email to safekids@cookchildrens.org to request a water watcher tag. You can also print out this water watcher sign-up sheet.
3. Avoid multitasking when children are in the water.
This supervision tip means not distracting yourself by, for example, reading or looking at your phone while at the pool, bathtub or in open water such as at the beach. Not doing laundry or the dishes when your kids are in the bath. Guardians must stay vigilant. Remember: “two seconds is too long to turn your back on a child in the water,” according to the Fort Worth Drowning Prevention Coalition.
4. Enroll your child in swim lessons and water safety classes.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends swim lessons as a layer of protection against drowning that can begin for many children starting at age 1. In fact, according to Lifeguard Your Child led by Cook Children’s, “drownings are eight times more likely to happen to children that do not know how to swim or are being supervised by adults that do not know how to swim.”
When determining whether your child is ready for swim lessons, consider your child’s maturity, physical and developmental abilities and limitations and comfort level in the water. Not sure where to look for lessons? Check out our guides to swimming lessons and water safety classes in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
5. Make sure your child wears a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket.
Cory Stuhmer, board member of Fort Worth Drowning Prevention Coalition, recommends anyone wear a life jacket any time they’re in a body of water where they can’t touch the bottom. “Whether it’s at the beach, in the river, at the pool or on a lake, life jackets can be a very important part of water safety,” he says.
It’s also state law that children younger than 13 must wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket on any vessel that is under 26 feet in length when underway. Lifeguard Your Child even recommends leaving life jackets on until you get to your car or house since cleaning up after pool time or when leaving the lake can be chaotic.
6. Learn and get certified in CPR.
If something goes wrong, this parent supervision tip can be the difference between life and death while waiting for emergency personnel to arrive. The American Heart Association (AHA) says, “70 percent of Americans may feel helpless to act during a cardiac emergency because they either do not know how to administer CPR or their training has significantly lapsed.”
Considering that statistic, you ought to highly consider brushing up on your CPR skills by taking a certification course near you through the Red Cross, American Heart Association (in-person or virtual) or through your local YMCA.
And it’s not just adults who can learn and administer CPR. The AHA also says even children as young as 4 years old can begin building the skills, so that by around age 10, they can perform chest compressions effectively.
7. Know what to do in a water emergency.
If a child is missing, the Red Cross advises to check the water first. Then do the following to safely help someone who is in trouble in the water:
- Alert the lifeguard, if one is present.
- Recognize the signs of someone in trouble and shout for help. A swimmer needs immediate help if they are not making forward progress in the water, are vertical in the water but unable to move or tread water, or are motionless and face down in the water.
- Rescue and remove the person from the water (without putting yourself in danger).
- Ask someone to call emergency medical services. If alone, give 2 minutes of care, then call 911.
- Begin rescue breathing and CPR.
- Use an AED (automated external defibrillator) if available and transfer care to advanced life
RELATED: The Alarming Truth About Child Drownings in North Texas
Image: iStock
