Be Water Smart, Be Water Safe
As May is National Water Safety Month and signals the impending arrival of summer, it's time for us to reflect on the importance of water safety, particularly concerning our children. Tragically, in 2023, 90 children lost their lives to drowning in the state of Texas alone. Harris County bore the brunt of this statistic with 25 drownings, a staggering 76% of which were children aged 5 and under. These numbers are a stark reminder that drowning remains a significant threat to our youth, one that can occur anywhere and at any time.
Our area is intertwined with bodies of water such as creeks, bayous, lakes, and pools, underscoring the urgency of water safety awareness. Yet, it's not just the external bodies of water that pose a risk; even household items like bathtubs, toilets, and buckets can become hazards if children are left unsupervised. The presence of water in our lives demands constant vigilance and proactive measures to prevent drownings.
Be Water Smart:
- Establishing family rules that prohibit unsupervised water activities, whether in pools or bathtubs, is paramount.
- When kids are in the water an adult should be assigned as a water watcher 100% of the time.
- Hosts of pool parties should hire a certified lifeguard or appoint a water watcher who is not distracted.
- Kids are curious. Keep buckets and play pools empty.
- Life jackets should be worn in AND around the water.
- Teach children not to go into the water to help another struggling child: “Reach or Throw but NEVER go.”
- Adults should take a CPR course.
Be Water Safe:
- The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends swim lessons as a foundational layer of protection against drowning, starting as early as age 1. These lessons not only impart crucial survival skills but also cultivate good water safety habits from an early age.
- Recent studies suggest that water survival skills training and swim lessons can help reduce drowning risk for children between ages 1-4. Classes that include both parents and their children are a good way to introduce good water safety habits and start building swim readiness skills.
- For children aged 4 and above, swim lessons become a necessity, equipping them with essential techniques such as floating and treading water. By age 5 or 6, most children in swim lessons can master the front crawl. If your child hasn't already started in a learn-to-swim program, now is the time!
- Swim lessons don't make kids "drown-proof." Constant supervision and the implementation of multiple layers of protection, including barriers to pool access, are equally crucial. The significance of this multi-layered approach is underscored by the fact that 69% of drownings under the age of 5 years occur when children are not expected to be in the water.
Empowering parents and caregivers with water safety education is paramount. Organizations like the Dad's Club, in partnership with the American Red Cross, offer free online courses aimed at educating adults about water safety. By equipping caregivers with the knowledge and skills to recognize and mitigate drowning risks, we can collectively strive toward a safer environment for our children.
As we embark on the summer season, let us prioritize water safety as a non-negotiable aspect of family life. By instilling a culture of vigilance, education, and proactive prevention measures, we can significantly reduce the incidence of drownings and ensure that our children can enjoy the water safely. Be water smart, be water safe, and join us in making a splash for water safety this National Water Safety Month and beyond.
Source: healthychildren.org and the American Academy of Pediatrics (Copyright © 2019)