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The Key to preventing incidents around water
At Ocaquatics, SAFETY is our #1 priority. It is important that our families and the community know that constant adult supervision is the key to preventing incidents around water. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has taken an aggressive stance to warn families with young children about the potential dangers of leaving children unsupervised.
Drowning is the leading cause of injury-related death in children ages 1 to 4 and it can happen in a blink of an eye. According to the AAP, the primary problem is the absence of barriers that prevent unsupervised and unanticipated access to water, this includes swimming pools, hot tubs and spas, bathtubs, standing water buckets, tubs and toilets.
It is important to watch children closely and never leave them unsupervised around water. Children benefit from swimming lessons and can learn valuable swim skills, but still should never be considered “drown-proof”. Even if young children have had swimming lessons, parents must watch them at all times to prevent drowning. There should also always be as may barriers as possible placed around a body of water to prevent unauthorized access.
To prevent incidents around water, here are some safety tips from the AAP:
Children should take swimming lessons, a year round program is best to keep their skills current.
When infants or toddlers are in or around water, a supervising adult with swimming skills should be within an arm’s length, providing constant “touch supervision.”
Do not leave young children alone in bathrooms. Toilet locks can prevent drowning of toddlers.
Keep constant visual contact with children near water.
Adults should empty water from buckets and other containers immediately after using them.
Never leave children alone, or in the care of another child, while in or near bathtubs, pools, spas or other open water.
For homes with a pool, install a fence at least 4 feet high around all four sides of the pool.
Let’s keep these safety tips in mind and work together to keep children safer around water. Click here to learn more about our swimming lessons.
