Drowning Prevention Tips That Could Save Your Child’s Life

It’s that time of year again, the time for families to head to the beach or relax poolside enjoying the sunshine. Many parents are already well aware of the dangers that summer water activities pose, but here are some tips that you may not know that could potentially save a life.

Prevention over Action

In my opinion, the key to safety is always prevention over action. Through my experience as a lifeguard I have learned that most drownings and water related accidents could have been easily prevented with the proper rule implementations and regulations. For example, not running on the pool deck or not allowing diving into shallow water are two great rules that are crucial to maintain a safe pool environment.

Supervision is a Must

At a home pool, it can often be difficult to enforce these rules and parents may be unable to watch their children at all times. My general rule is that if a child cannot swim from one end of the pool to the other and back without being out of breath they should not be left unattended. Just because a child has taken swim lessons does not mean they are not at risk for drowning. Lots of play can leave a normally strong swimmer tired and unable to make it to the closest pool edge.

Don’t be a Statistic

Drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death in children under 15 years of age, a scary statistic. Unlike its portrayal in the movies, drowning is often quiet and it is only a matter of seconds before a struggling child can slip under the water. Parents should be vigilant for these silent cries for help, but also teach children to yell and wave their arms at the first indication of distress.

Life Saving Tips

Another life saving skill is to teach children how to float on their back; this enables the exhausted swimmer to rest and catch their breath for as long as they need. Also make sure plenty of flotation devices are available, but remember a child who is not a strong swimmer on their own should still not be left unattended even with a floatation device.

Elbow, Elbow, Knee, Knee

No child is too young to begin to learn to swim, a fact that is often overlooked when parents have infants or toddlers. The most important skill for an infant or toddler to learn is how to get out of the pool. You can practice this skill with your child by having them hold onto the side of the pool and use the “elbow, elbow, knee, knee method”. This involves placing one elbow at a time up on the edge of the pool and then swinging one knee up to push oneself out of the water. This skill alone could prevent the many drownings that occur when a small child falls into a pool unattended because it can be performed by children at a very young age.

Overall, I strongly recommend continuing swim lessons to strengthen important skills as well as hiring a lifeguard for events where lots of children will be at the pool. By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your child will have a safer, sun filled summer.

About the Author: Megan Rotatori
Megan Rotatori is a senior nursing student at the University of Vermont. She has been a swim instructor for seven years and a lifeguard for four. Megan grew up involved in competitive swimming, and always had a great love for the pool and the ocean. She is passionate about working with kids, and specializes in working with children with disabilities and special needs.