Swim Safety Tips

Summertime has arrived here in Augusta! We hope you’re enjoying lots of family fun time this summer while the kids are out of school, but most importantly we want you to stay safe. We have no doubt many of you will be spending time at the local pool, or at the beach for vacation, and we’d be remiss not to warn you against the danger of drowning. Drowning is a leading cause of death in childhood, especially for children 1 to 4 years of age (AAP.org). Let’s make sure we all stay safe and have fun this summer.

1. Never leave children unsupervised around a body of water. 
2. When at a pool, get in the water with younger children and weak swimmers. Even if you are not swimming but there is a pool or body of water nearby, always keep children within arm’s reach. If you must leave, take the child with you.
   1. The number one drowning risk for toddlers age 1-4 is unanticipated, unsupervised access to water. Children are naturally curious and commonly slip away unnoticed during non-swim times (AAP).
3. Keep home pools covered when not in use. The American Academy of Pediatrics strongly recommends that all pools be surrounded by a four-sided fence with a self-closing, locke gate.
4. Empty inflatable or portable pools after every use. 
5. Consider swim lessons or water survival skill courses for children ages four and up. 
6. Always use life jackets when doing activities such as kayaking, boating, or tubing in rivers and lakes. Make sure children’s life jackets are properly fitted before entering the water. 
7. Know how to recognize signs of distress and be able to quickly respond in the event of trouble. We recommend that all parents, caregivers, and even older children know CPR and safe rescue techniques for aiding in a water rescue. 

You can never be too safe when it comes to water safety. Always keep your children’s safety in mind when around water, whether at home, at a friend’s house, or on a family vacation. If you have questions regarding water safety, swimming, or otherwise always feel free to talk to your pediatrician. 

For questions or any other concerns, Augusta Pediatrics can be reached at (706) 868-0389. The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images and information, contained on or available through this web site is for general information purposes only.

Sources: American Academy of Pediatrics, “Swim Lessons” and “Infant Water Safety.”