Did you know that water accidents are one of the leading causes of death among children in the world?
When it comes to the safety of a child, no parent or caretaker leaves any stone unturned, but there are many common causes of death in children; drowning is the second on that list (birth defects being at the top). To make matters worse, it kills quickly and silently even in the shallowest of waters. This makes it very important to know child water safety tips to save our children in water outside (such as a pool or beach) and even at home.
Have you ever wondered, ‘How to prevent drowning at home? In this blog, we’ll discuss important facts about drowning, water safety tips for children, and practical ways to prevent drowning both at home and outdoors.
4 Must- Know Drowning Facts in Children and Precautionary Measures
1. Fatal and Non-Fatal Drowning
The two major types of drowning are fatal and non-fatal. Fatal drowning results in death, while a person survives in non-fatal drowning but might end up with no injuries to severe injuries like brain and lung damage or permanent disability.
Did you know you can take measures at home to prevent water accidents with your children?
2. Water-related Risks for Children
An infant is first introduced to water during its bath. Though they are bathed in sinks or specially designed tubs, safety should always be practiced. Infants lack good head and neck control, so lifting them quickly from the water in an incident can be tricky. Keeping towels and other necessary items within reach is very important so that parents or carers do not have to leave the child unattended, even for a little while. Therefore, water-related risks for children are among the crucial drowning facts that parents must know to prevent water accidents.
3. Essential Home Supervision
As the child grows and learns to crawl and explore his surroundings, it becomes important to ‘childproof’ the house. Simple things such as toilets, buckets of water, and kiddie pools can now be hazardous. So, this baby drowning prevention at home is necessary. Toddlers who are still learning to walk can easily find their way to the nearby tub or pool and may be at risk of falling in. Many parents start swimming lessons quite early. Adult supervision around the house and pools is essential. Some baby drowning prevention measures include covering water containers, keeping bathrooms locked, covering pools with mesh, or installing a fence around them.
4. Essential Outdoor Supervision
When outside, such as at public pools or beaches, active supervision becomes the key to child water safety. This means keeping a constant watch on your kids; not just a glance while you are doing your activities, but watching them all the time. More often than not, drowning happens silently and quickly. Do not expect the children to yell for help or splash water around to get attention. Therefore, essential outdoor supervision is an essential drowning fact that parents must know to safeguard their children from water accidents.
“Teach kids to face the water so they can see if a big wave is coming. Teach kids that if they’re being pulled out from shore by a rip current or undertow, they should yell for help and then swim parallel to the shore (alongside the shore) until they don’t feel like they’re being pulled out anymore.”
– Amy Anzilotti, M.D
Read More – Teaching Infants to Swim
How to Prevent Drowning Accidents at Home? 7 Safety Measures to Take
Water safety measures inside the home should be practised every day by all the members residing in the house. Here are 7 essential water safety tips that can be practised at home:
- Whoever is bathing the baby should keep all the necessities within arm’s reach and not divert attention from the child even for a little while.
- Many of the things, like locking the bathroom or covering water buckets, need to become not just priorities but habits to prevent drowning accidents at home.
- All containers of water (big and small) need to be out of reach of infants and toddlers at all times.
- Tubs should be drained completely after every bath.
- Toilets should be covered, and seat cover locks should be installed while child-proofing the house.
- Kiddie pools should either be drained after use or not be kept out, as rainwater may accumulate in them, creating another hazard.
- Backyard pools should have a fence that is at least 4 feet high and should surround the pool. This fence should also be kept locked when the pool is not in use.
How to Prevent Drowning Accidents Outside? 4 Key Steps to Follow
When you are taking your children out for a swim outside, watching them all the time becomes imperative whether they know how to swim or not. Here are 4 tips to prevent your child from drowning outside your home premises.
- When you are at a public pool, water park, or beach, please understand that your or your child’s safety is not the responsibility of the lifeguard alone.
- A child under the age of 5 should be within arm’s reach, and a child under 10 years should always be in your sight.
- Wearing life jackets when near water or on a boat or any other watercraft is another way to prevent drowning accidents.
- Even if the children are playing near the water, it is advisable to make them wear life jackets, as they can turn towards the water at any moment for various reasons. This should be practised even when you are at water parks, as there are several areas of the park where the full view is not accessible due to the different positioning of the slides.
Read More – Bathroom Safety for Children
Water Safety Tips for Kids at Home
At home, as the child grows, teach them that being around water containers is not a good idea. Going to the kiddie pool or backyard pool is dangerous. Though infants or toddlers might be too young to fully understand, they learn from the adults around them and from how those adults behave around certain things,, such as water bodies.
As a parent of an infant or a toddler, it is a good idea for you to learn to swim yourself. Other than this, learning CPR and first aid can come in handy in case of any untoward incident. Teaching your children swimming at an early age (maybe after their first birthday) can help prevent such incidents and is a major water safety tip for kids. Even for small kids, tips such as how to keep their heads above the water’s surface can be very helpful. Tell your kids about the dangers of being in or near water, and practising safety is important. Also, teach them what to do if they are drowning: stay calm, try to float, and wave their hand to signal for help.
Make it a habit to read safety signs at public pools, water parks, and other water bodies, and teach your children to do the same. Telling them the difference between various water areas and how to behave around such places is vital. Checking the weather before going for a swim is a handy tip. When at a beach or a river, make sure that you and the children understand the relevance of tides and water currents. Even if the children are confident in their swimming skills, make them understand that swimming without adult supervision can still be perilous.
Read More – Physical Activities for Kids
Conclusion
Water accidents involving children happen instantly, so it is essential for parents to be aware of preventive measures. In this article, we have addressed water safety tips for your children at home and outside the premises. We have also provided you with tips to prevent drowning. Now, it’s your turn – please share your suggestions on how to prevent drowning at home.
We at EuroKids understand that spending time with your children at a pool or on the beach is a fun way to bond and spend quality time together. Knowing about the dangers around these water bodies is vital, and so are the safety measures for being in or around them. We believe that as parents, everyone will try to learn these safety measures and impart them to their children as well. Needless to say, with these tips, every water adventure will be a safe and fun trip to cherish.
For informative and accurate articles on all things related to your newborn-toddler’s development, growth, health, and nutrition, follow EuroKids Blogs and do check out our nationally recognized preschools, EuroKids for the first step in your kid’s educational journey!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the biggest cause of drowning among young children?
Lack of constant adult supervision is one of the leading causes of drowning in young children. Most drowning incidents occur quickly and silently, often when children are left unattended near water.
2. How can parents prevent drowning at home?
Parents can reduce drowning risks by never leaving children alone during bath time, emptying buckets and tubs after use, locking bathrooms, securing pools with fences, and keeping water containers covered and out of reach.
3. At what age should children start swimming lessons?
Many experts recommend introducing children to age-appropriate swimming lessons after their first birthday. However, swimming lessons should always be combined with active adult supervision.
4. Are life jackets necessary if my child knows how to swim?
Yes. Even confident swimmers should wear properly fitted, Coast Guard-approved life jackets while boating or participating in water activities where unexpected situations may arise.
