Water Safety

Terrifying data from the CDC shows that drowning continues to be the leading cause of death for children under 4 years old. While it’s wonderful to splash around with your child, please consider these important steps to keep your child safe:

1. Always have your child wear flotation devices, but avoid the “wings” on the arms or worse, the back “bubble”—it is better to get a flotation suit that goes around the waist.

2. Enroll your child in swimming lessons. It is the best investment in your child's safety and they can start at any age.

3. Stay in Code with pool fences that are at least 4 feet high.

4. Take away tempting pool toys from the pool area once swim time is over.

5. Be sure there is an adult who knows they are assigned to supervise all activity in the pool.

And, it's always so much safer for you, as child care givers, to know basic life support (CPR) which is not hard to learn—it can be the most critical skill needed in an emergency.

It is also important to remember that it's not just pools, ponds, and the ocean that pose a threat: the risk of drowning exists even in 1 or 2 inches of water, including a bathtub. Always make sure to:

1. Keep a hand on your child in the bath.

2. Do not leave large water vessels (kiddie pools, buckets, coolers) unattended.

The most important thing in keeping your child safe is remaining vigilant. Don't get distracted by phones, social media, friends, or even pets!