Tips: Summer Safety

Lake & Beach Safety

Submitted By: Infant Swimming Resource (www.infantswim.com)

1. CEO Supervision - Never turn your back on your child around water. It takes just seconds for him/her to be in serious trouble.  At the beach, it’s important that the supervising adult is no farther away than 10 feet from a young child.  Segment the supervision responsibilities so there are never questions about which adult is responsible for watching the child and be aware of the distractions unique to the beach/shore setting: heat, noise, people-watching, sun glare, and the monotony of a young child’s repetitive play.  Even professional beach lifeguards guard the beach in timed segments… you should too.

2. Bright Colors - Dress your child in bright colors when going to the lake or the beach. Use a consistent bright color and style of swim suit so all family members have a consistent image of what the child is wearing.

3. Pictures - Have a picture of your child in the consistent "beach suit or lake outfit" with you to show the life guard or others who may be with you.  Put it in a plastic bag.

4. Cell Phones - Your cell phone is VERY important. You may want to protect it from the salt spray by putting it in plastic bag.

5. Self-rescue Skills – Teach young children self-rescue skills as the final layer of defense if they go unnoticed into a body of water.  Survival swimming and a demonstration of the roll back to float skills prior to all water recreation is important.  Let your certified Infant Swimming Resource instructor know you are going to the beach or lake so skills that are of greater benefit in rapidly moving, turbulent water with poor visibility, can be stabilized or practiced more during lessons.

6. Dock Safety - Have a hook, rope and throw ring attached to the dock such that these can be used at a moment’s notice. Teach and practice their use but do not allow unsupervised practice or play with these vital survival tools.

7. Rope off a wading/swimming area - Begin at the shore and extend a rope out to a depth of your choice. Allow your children to swim off of the shore ONLY in this area. It reduces where you might have to search, where they might be upon evading your home supervision.

8. Go no further line - Paint a ‘go no further line’ 2.5 feet in from all edges of the dock.  Teach children to hold an adult’s hand between that line and the any edge of the dock. This is better than the verbal and vague … do not get too close to the edge… Install a dock gate at the entrance of the dock that is armed with an alarm.

9. Life Jackets - Life jackets must be worn in a boat or around the water when there is the potential for an accidental submersion. But, life jackets are not a substitute for the ability to swim nor for adult supervision. When picking out a life jacket, please read the warning labels as some of them will not float a child face-up.

10. Floaties - Flotation devices such as floaties, inflatable rings, etc., can often times provide a false sense of security for parents and children. These items can easily deflate or fall off your child’s arm leaving them in a potentially dangerous situation.

For the full Aquatic Safety Checklist from Infant Swimming Resource visit:
http://www.infantswim.com/safety/index.html

Pool Safety Tips

• Never leave children unattended in a pool, regardless of whether it is a big or small pool, not even for a few seconds.  It only takes a few seconds for a child to drown.
  
• Make sure that your pool has a fence on all 4 sides and that fence is locked.
• An adult should always be present and paying careful attention when children are in the pool or in the backyard at all.
• A telephone should be located near the pool at all times.
• Parent and caregivers should learn CPR.  A few seconds can make the difference between life and death.
  

Having Safe Fun in the Sun With Your Kids

Submitted By: Alison Rhodes, national safety expert and owner of Peek A Boo Ba

 

As soon as the thermometer hits 70°F my kids are breaking out their bathing suits and grabbing their beach toys. Whether it's at a friend's pool or the local beach, summer days seem to fly by when we're all swimming together. Having lived in California most of our lives, my husband and I love the beach and wanted to instill a love of swimming in our children. But every year we seem to read another tragic story about a toddler or young child drowning in a swimming pool or at the beach. So, while I never want my kids to be fearful of the water, I want to be sure I'm providing a safe environment and teaching them how to have safe fun in the sun.

 

The highest priority in water safety is constant parental supervision. Drowning can occur in less than 5 minutes, the time it takes to answer the phone or check on another child. If you need to leave, assign another adult to watch your child. Never assume someone else is watching her! And if your child is missing, immediately check the pool - moments could mean the difference between safety and a tragedy. Keep a cordless phone with you at all times and a list of emergency numbers posted at the side of the pool. If you are at a pool party, establish a buddy system whereby each child is paired up with another. Every 5 to 10 minutes, yell "Buddy check!" and the buddies need to find each other. Many parents use flotation devices for their younger children who do not yet know how to swim or are not strong swimmers. This is not a good idea as it may give parents a false sense of security in regards to the child's safety and may also encourage children to venture into deeper water than they might normally feel comfortable doing. Do not assume, however, that if your child has had swim lessons she could not drown.

 

When it comes to your pool, your toddler is not going to understand the inherent dangers. It is up to you to completely safeguard the pool. A fence should be installed completely around the perimeter. One that surrounds the entire deck or backyard is too large and not close enough to protect the pool. The fence should not have any foot or handholds and be sure there are no objects such as lawn chairs or riding toys around the fence that your child could use as leverage to climb over. If your house opens right onto the pool, the doors leading from the house to the pool should be protected with an alarm. A power safety cover should also be installed. Be sure this cover meets the requirements of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) pool cover standard that addresses labeling requirements and performance. If you have an above-ground pool, the steps and ladders leading to the pool should be secured and locked or removed when the pool is not in use. Make sure there are no toys near the pool which could entice your child to jump in.

 

Beaches can pose other issues for safety as well. Make sure you read any posted surf warning and have children swim only in areas where lifeguards are on duty. Have your child wear water shoes to protect them from hot sand and sharp objects. Older kids who are swimming by themselves should understand the dangers of the undertow and what to do if they get caught in it (swim parallel to shore until you get past the affected area - don't try to swim against it!) Here again, set up the buddy system whenever possible.

 

Beware of jellyfish! If your child gets stung, rinse the affected body part with isopropyl alcohol, vinegar or seawater, and scrape or shave the areas gently to remove any remaining stingers. Do not rub the area or rinse with fresh water or tap water. Acetaminophen, aspirin or ibuprofen will help ease pain, and antihistamines such as Benadryl can relieve itching and swelling. If symptoms are severe, or if signs of anaphylactic reaction are present, seek medical help immediately.

 

Of course, always be sure to have your child wear sunscreen to avoid burning. While it may seem a lot to consider and easier just to stay away from beaches and pools, once you establish a safety routine, your summer days will be filled with fun in the surf and sand.

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Copyright - Peek-a-Boo BabyProofing, Inc. 2006