Water Safety

Summer is here and children are playing in and around water. As a South Floridian, I know the precautions parents try to take to keep their children safe around pools and beaches. Parents can try to “water-proof” their children but there is absolutely no substitute for supervision.

The purpose of swimming and water safety classes for young children is enjoyment and skill. But remember, young children cannot be responsible for their own physical safety. It’s not their job. Take your child to water programs to encourage fun water experiences. Let your child enjoy being in water. Let your child enjoy the freedom and strength of her body as she frolics in the water. Your child may possibly learn some extremely useful safety techniques.

Be very careful - swimming and water safety programs frequently give parents and caregivers a false sense of security. Young children are notorious for making poor decisions, for over–estimating abilities and super-powers, and for under-estimating risks.

A typical example is this story from a mom of two-year-old and four-year-old boys. The boys “knew” the rules: no one is allowed in the pool without a grown-up. The pool was fenced and locked when the boys happen to be playing ball in the backyard. Mom was watching from the window to see just how this scenario would play out. The ball went over the fence into the pool. The two-year-old scaled the fence and was jumping into the pool to retrieve the ball. The four-year-old was following to “save” the two-year-old as he repeatedly scolded the two-year-old for breaking the rules. Mom had to “rescue” both boys.

The only thing worse than “no supervision” is “too much” supervision. Statistics confirm that accidents frequently occur when multiple adults are poolside and everyone assumes that someone else is watching the children. A great solution to this problem is available from Safe Kids Worldwide. Go to www.usa.safekids.org/water to print out “water watcher badges”. The designated water supervisor wears this badge and may not leave the water area without finding another adult to be the full-time “water watcher”.

Have a safe and happy summer!