Water Safety Tips, a guest blog by Daniela S.

**Daniela submitted this article for me to publish in July, but I got to it late. After my post yesterday about our recent water-scare, I thought this blog would provide some action items that as parents we can take to make sure our kids stay safe. I know I’ll heed this advice!**

Ahhh summer…for many of us, this time of the year scares the crap out of us. I’m not talking about finding a swimsuit that makes us 10 pounds thinner and doesn’t look like something our grandmothers wouldn’t bother wearing. I’m talking about keeping our kids safe in the pool.

I’ve worked around the water for over 15 years and have always been a swimmer, so I felt comfortable that I could handle myself and keep others safe. The minute my son, Devan, was born, an ability to worry like never before came along with him and that included his safety in and around the water.

Our concern about our kids and the water is well founded; according to the CDC, the 2nd leading cause of accidental death among children under 14 is drowning. Unfortunately, the answer isn’t keeping our kids out of the water since the incidence of drowning is higher is populations that lack access to pools or whose cultural beliefs prevent them from swimming. The good news is the incidence of drowning sharply declines, up to 88%, when kids enroll in swim lessons.

Independent lessons typically start at the age of 3 but there is so much you can do before then to make your kids comfortable and safe in the water that will make you feel better. The old-adage is true; we are child’s first teacher. So, here are my tried and true tips to help you (and your child) feeling better around the pool:

-Ensure you have a standing rule for your family regarding when your kids can get in. Kids 5 and under shouldn’t be allowed in the water without a parent or responsible adult also in the water (you may need to raise your threshold, depending on your comfort and your child’s ability). Clearly communicate this rule to them and enforce it.

-As soon as you and your pediatrician feel it’s appropriate, take a parent-child swim lesson. The YMCA offers classes for babies as young as 6 months. This is a great introduction to the water for babies, a fun bonding experience, and a great social outlet for new moms (even if you have to put on a bathing suit). You can retake this class often as your child grows and changes and gains more confidence in the water.

-Don’t skip getting their face wet in the tub or in the shower. One of the biggest hurdles kids face in lessons and learning to swim is breath control, which requires them to put their face in the water. So, as soon as they can sit up in the tub or shower, start getting their face wet, praise them when they keep their mouth closed and encourage bubble-blowing. This skill goes a long way to developing a confident swimmer.

-Practice their skills whenever and wherever you can. Bathtubs were my son’s first pool. We practiced getting our face wet, wearing goggles, and floating on our back in our own home. It sounds silly, but it was a fun way to gain confidence and enjoy the water.

-Kids have to be able to manage their own buoyancy to learn how to swim. Once they can stand and walk from a sitting position, limit carrying them around in the water they can stand in. Our center of buoyancy is our lungs, higher than our center of gravity (our stomach); learning how to swim is learning how to accommodate for this difference and control our body in the water.
-If you must use a flotation device, a Coast Guard approved lifejacket if the only way to go. Waterwings are unreliable, unsafe and don’t teach proper body position. The same thing is true for inflatable rings. Using any types of flotation device lead to a false sense of security for kids and adults, but practicality is key to motherhood, especially if you have more than one child, so stick to a lifejacket if you need it. Make sure it fits properly, doesn’t slip over their ears and cannot be taken off easily (no zippers!). Make sure your kids get some practice time outside of their lifejacket.

My last words on this subject: don’t worry too much (You can say it. Pot or kettle, right?) . They may cry in class, not like the water the first time around or show no interest in swimming, but keep trying and keep it positive. Explore the water with toys, games and let them guide some of their interaction with the water. Swimming skills and a child’s confidence in the water pay big dividends later, after all, when’s the last time soccer practice saved your life?

About Daniela S.:
My husband, son and I are recent transplants from the Atlanta, GA area where I was a swim coach and lessons instructor. I have 12+ years experience in coaching, lessons, special needs instruction and lifeguarding. I was born and raised in Florida and am a former member of the U.S. Coast Guard.