Water is everywhere, especially here in Florida, and children can be curious without understanding the dangers. Water is very attractive because it is sparkly, cool to the touch and often used for play, especially during the hot summer months. It may be a child’s ��rst destination when chasing an adventure. Whether around the home, spending an afternoon at the pool or beach or out on a family boat trip, water can be lots of fun. It’s also a place where safety should be a priority. The injury prevention experts at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital and the Florida Suncoast Safe Kids Coalition want your family to follow these tips to prevent accidental drowning: Stay Safe Around All Water Add layers of protection to your home. Often children can exit the house without an adult knowing, so if a child is out of sight the pool is the ��rst place that should be checked. Prevent children from wandering into the pool area unsupervised by installing fencing that is at least 4 feet high around the pool with a self-closing, selflatching gate. Although this may not keep a child out altogether, it will buy you more time to ��nd your child before they get in the water. Install door and window alarms in your house. Place an alarm on every door and window that exits the house. Alarms must be active always to provide alerts if someone is entering or exiting the house. Placing locks high out of a child’s reach can also be helpful. Learn CPR. If an accident happens, acting immediately after calling 911 can help save a life. Many organizations, such as the American Heart Association, offer CPR courses. At parties or gather designate a water watcher. Adults can take 15-minute turns keeping an eye on the water. Give children all of your attention when they are near water. Set the cell phone down and put everything else on hold. Babies can drown in as little as one inch of water. Water Safety at Home Empty all inflatable/portable pools, tubs and buckets immediately after use. Store them upside down and out of the reach of children. Keep toilet lids closed and use seat locks to prevent accidental drowning. Keeping bathroom and laundry room doors closed is also a good idea. Swimming Safety Start slow with babies. Start introducing your baby to water when they are around 6 months old. Remember to always use waterproof diapers and change them frequently. When you feel your children are ready, enroll them in swimming lessons. Kids should know how to tread water, ��oat and stay by the shore. �������������������������������������������������������� Water wings and pool noodles are fun toys for kids, but they should never take the place of a U. S. Coast Guard approved personal ��otation device. Teach kids to always swim with an adult. Even older, more experienced swimmers should swim with a partner. Inform your children about the dangers of drain entrapment. Remind them to never play or swim near drains or suction outlets. If your pool or hot tub has a ��at drain grate or single main drain system, install protective measures such as anti-entrapment drain covers and a safety vacuum release system that will automatically release suction and shut down the pump should entrapment occur. Regularly check to make sure drain covers are secure and in good condition. Make sure kids swim only in areas designated for swimming. Teach kids that open water is not the same as swimming in a pool. They need to be aware of uneven surfaces, river currents, ocean undertow and changing weather. Keep a phone nearby, in case of emergency. Just make sure to keep your focus on your child and not the phone. Boating Safety �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Have them make a “touchdown” signal by raising both arms straight up. If the life jacket hits your child’s chin or ears, it may be too big or the straps may be too loose. Keep infants off boats. According to the U.S. Coast Guard's Of��ce of Boating Safety, babies should not travel on any type of boat until they are at the appropriate weight to wear an approved personal ��otation device. Do not use a car seat. If the boat were to capsize, the seat would sink instantly. WISE UP AROUND WATER! 49
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