School is out, the mercury is rising, and swimming season is upon us. Unfortunately, this popular summertime activity is the in children between the ages of 1 and 4.
The best line of defense against drowning is to always keep a watchful eye on your child, says Jose Morales Moreno, MD, a pediatrician and assistant professor in the Division of General Pediatrics at 麻豆学生精品版. While watching over young children, he advises using 鈥渢ouch supervision鈥 by keeping them at arm鈥檚 length.
鈥淏y far, the most important tip is to never leave children alone in or near the pool,鈥 Morales Moreno says. 鈥淐lose supervision is an absolute must at all times. If possible, caregivers should be trained in administering CPR in cases of emergency.鈥
Start Them Young
Another key safety measure is to teach your child how to swim . Morales Moreno says many children may be ready to begin lessons by the time they start walking.
鈥淭he American Academy of Pediatrics recommends swim lessons as protection against drowning, starting at age 1,鈥 Morales Moreno says. 鈥淏y their 4th birthday, the vast majority of children are ready for swimming lessons. If your child doesn鈥檛 know how to swim at this age, don鈥檛 wait!鈥
Ditch the Distractions
Drowning happens quickly and quietly, which is why it鈥檚 so important to eliminate all distractions while supervising your child in the pool. While on duty, stow away your phone, put down your beach read, avoid drugs and alcohol, and enjoy living in the moment with your young swimmer.
鈥淐onstant supervision requires a lot of concentration,鈥 Morales Moreno says. 鈥淭his is why it is better to assign this job to a water watcher and trade off this responsibility so no one person gets tired.鈥
Buckle Up for Safety
Although they may give the illusion of safety, water wings and floaties (noodles, inflatable rafts, tubes, etc.) are pool toys. They can pop, float away, trap your child underwater, and even hinder swimming confidence. While shopping for safety apparel, look for a properly fitted U.S. Coast Guard-approved Also, keep in mind that swim aids鈥攁nd lifeguards鈥攁re not substitutes for adult supervision.
Secure Your Pool
A sparkling backyard pool makes summer so much sweeter, yet it can pose some serious dangers without proper safety measures in place. Here are some for keeping your fast-moving little ones out of harm鈥檚 way.
- Enclose your pool with a four-foot or higher fence
- Install alarms on the pool gate and house doors
- Install a wave-detecting alarm in the pool
- Pay close attention to pet doors
- Keep rescue equipment nearby
- Keep toys stowed away and out of the water
Don鈥檛 Be a Party Pooper
Swim diapers are essential for your little ones, but they do leak and shouldn鈥檛 be substituted for frequent diaper changing. Keep the pool safe for everyone by doing a diaper check or potty break every hour. Since soggy diapers aren鈥檛 ideal for communal pools, Morales Moreno recommends starting potty training as soon as a child is developmentally ready, which is typically around age 2.
Leave on a Good Note
While at the pool, kids often have a difficult time calling it a day鈥攅ven when they鈥檙e overly tired. If your child is showing signs of dehydration or exhaustion, it鈥檚 time to pack it in. include dry mouth, fussiness, crankiness, minimal bathroom breaks, and sunken eyes. With a long summer ahead, remind them there will be plenty more days for some pool time fun.