The sad reality about drowning is that every young child is at risk. While it is not the most comfortable topic to discuss, learning how to keep your children safe around water is a crucial conversation that every parent or caretaker needs to have.
According to the Government of Canada, drowning is the leading cause of death amongst children between the ages of 1 and 4. In addition, Red Cross reports that 57% of drowning incidents occur between the months of May and August - when the sun is out and Canadian families flock to the beach or pool to enjoy some Summer fun by the water.
Today we’ve compiled a list of some of the best ways you can prevent any potential drowning scares and keep your kids safe around water this Summer.
1. Always Stay Within an Arm’s Reach
Kids who are not yet experienced swimmers need constant supervision. This means that you (or another responsible adult) should stay in the water with your child at all times. Even when your kids are able to swim long distances you should always keep them in sight as kids of all ages can get stuck underwater, grow tired, or start panicking.
2. Stop Looking at Your Phone
The same goes for iPads, laptops, and any other electronics you might bring to kill time by the poolside or beach. It only takes a few seconds for your child to become submerged. Making sure that you are not distracted helps prevent any accidents that could be prevented by attentive supervision.
3. Teach Them the Basic Water Safety Rules
To keep it simple, stick to these:
No running by the pool
No pushing people in
Hands to yourself
No swimming without adult supervision
No diving in the shallow end
4. Enroll Your Kids in Swimming Lessons
Swimming is a fundamental life skill that should be taught to children as early as possible in order to prevent accidents in the water. Enrolling your children in swimming lessons while they are young is crucial to developing the necessary water safety habits and swimming skills that could potentially save their lives one day.
Our Summer swim lessons start July 6 and are OPEN for registration at our pools in Surrey, Whiterock, Langley, and Abbotsford. Lessons run from July to August.
Register today: https://www.swimclo.com/register-summer