Top Five Water Safety Tips For Families
Drowning is preventable! Stay in the know and practice water safety with these tips:
1. Teach Kids To Ask Permssion
Whether it's your home's pool, the beach or a water park, instill in your children the "ask permission" rule before they go near the water. Let them know that you'll likely say yes, but you need time to get prepared to watch them and be proactive. Teaching kids early on to ask permssion will help them have a better understanding that safety comes first.
2. Supervise Children When They're In The Water
When your children are in the water, it's time to be alert. As a general rule, an adult should be within arm's reach of a young child at all times. If other adults are present, you can take turns watching the pool, so everyone gets an equal chance to relax. Working together to protect your children is the best way to prevent an accident.
3. Teach Safe Ways To Enter The Water
Jumping or diving into shallow water is dangerous. Insist that children enter and exit the pool using steps or a ladder (unless they are in a designated diving area). If your pool doesn't have a specified area for diving, don't allow it.
4. Don't Jump In The Water To Save A Friend
If a child sees a friend struggling in the water, their first instinct may be to jump in to help — a move that could lead to both people drowning. The Y recommends the "reach, throw, don't go" technique, which involves using a long object to pull a struggling swimmer to safety. By using this technique, children can help without putting themselves at risk.
5. Enroll Your Children In Swim Lessons
The best way to teach children water safety is to enroll them in swim lessons. Just like teaching your children to look both ways before crossing the street, formal water safety lessons teach important life skills. Swim lessons have been shown to reduce the risk of drowning by 88%. Want to ensure your children know how to be safe around water? Sign them up for swim lessons at the Y.