Summer is finally here and children all over Wisconsin are enjoying the outdoors. Water safety is important when your family is enjoying the days in pools, lakes and water parks.
Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury related death for children younger than 14 years of age, and the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4. The following tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics will help you and your child stay safe all summer long:
- Never leave children alone in water, not even for a few seconds.
- When young children are in and around water, an adult should be within an arm's length at all times. Swim in areas where a lifeguard or adult is present.
- Small children should wear flotation devices while playing near water or on piers. Inflatable pool toys or water wings never should be used to keep a child afloat.
- Do not let your child dive unless you know the depth of the water is at least 9 feet.
- Even good swimmers need a swim buddy, so teach your child to never swim alone. Children normally are ready for swimming lessons when they are 3 or 4 years old. The right age for lessons will vary from one child to another.
- Alcohol and water do not mix. Never swim or go boating when you have been drinking alcoholic beverages. Remember, your life and the lives of your family members depend on it. Often, children drown in the presence of adults who have been drinking.
- Keep rescue equipment and a portable phone near the pool.
- Keep electrical appliances away from the water to prevent electrical shock.
If you have a pool at home, enclose it with at least 6-foot-high fencing. The gate should be self-closing and self-locking. The fence and gate should be of a material a child cannot climb. The pool should not be open to a door or window. If a fence does not surround a pool, the water should be drained from it when not in use.
Families, especially those with backyard pools, should know how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Many hospitals and the American Red Cross offer classes.
