Stay Water Safe 

Learn some important tips for keeping your kids safe around the water this summer. 

In the next few months, families will be heading out to the beach or spending the longer days at the pool, surrounded by water. For a fun, safe and confident summer, now is the time to start implementing water safety practices.

Understand the Risks

Parents must be aware of the potential risks of spending time at the beach, pool or any body of water, especially during the busy summer. It’s a tragic fact that drowning is a leading cause of death for children under 14. There is an average of 4,012 unintentional drowning deaths each year. Drowning is fast and can happen in as little as 20-60 seconds. 

Though these numbers are scary, thankfully drowning is preventable by following simple safety and education measures.  

Prepare and Educate

Parents can prepare for summer by taking time to implement water safety practices outlined by the SAFER acronym:

• Swim with a buddy and designate a water watcher.
  • Identify an adult in your group to keep a close eye on swimmers. Rotate your water watcher every 30 minutes to avoid supervision fatigue. Though lifeguards may be around to keep everyone safe, parents and guardians are ultimately responsible for the safety of their children.
• Acquire CPR and first-aid training.
  • Parents and caregivers are encouraged to take CPR and first-aid training with a reputable group such as the American Red Cross, enabling them to respond quickly and confidently in case of emergency. While everyone hopes that they never encounter a situation where they need to use these skills, the risk of a water emergency is always there, even more so in the summer. It’s always best to be as prepared as possible.
• Find and reduce water hazards.
  • Install fencing, locks and alarms around water. If you have a pool at home, don’t leave toys or items of interest near the water to prevent accidental entry. It’s also important to ensure proper fitting life jackets are available for any water activities. The safest kind of life jacket is a weight-appropriate, US Coastguard-approved flotation device. These can be type I, II or III and do not include inflatable “water wings” that only secure a child’s arms.
• Enroll in swim lessons to improve skills.
  • The CDC notes that formal swim lessons reduce drowning by 88 percent, making year-round formal swim lessons the best way to help a child be confident and safe around the water. In addition to safety, swim lessons are proven to provide many other benefits, including increased confidence, stronger relationship-building and improved physical health. 
• Respond fast and call 911 for emergencies.
  • Drowning incidents are not always obvious, making close supervision essential for any water activity. Ensure your water watcher can respond quickly and dial 911 in case of emergency. Every second counts during a drowning or near-drowning experience, quick responses and proper preparation could save someone’s life. 

Be Ready for the Beach

If you’re heading to the beach, make sure your family is properly educated on rip currents and how to get out of them. According to the United States Lifesaving Association, more than 100 deaths occur each year in the US due to rip currents, and 80 percent of lifeguard rescues are due to rip currents. To avoid an emergency at the beach, it’s key to be prepared to swim and supervise in this environment:

• Pay attention to warnings and flags upon arriving at the beach.
• Swim under lifeguard supervision.
• Remember that calm water is not always safe.
• If caught in a riptide, don’t try to swim out of it. Swim parallel to shore until the current ebbs, then work your way back in.
• Know that flotation devices don’t offer full protection.
• Stay alert and aware near the water.

Tom Dolan is president of corporate pools for Big Blue Swim School, father and swim safety advocate. He is a two-time Olympic gold medalist, one-time Olympic silver medalist and former world record holder of the 400 IM. Visit bigblueswimschool.com to learn about year-round swim lessons for children at the Huntington Beach location.