Having Fun and Staying Safe While Playing in Water
It’s summertime, which means swimming season is here. Since many community pools and splash pads around the state have reopened and Georgia has lots of lakes and beaches that offer relief to the higher temps, we know that more families will be seeking these spots out to stay cool and have some fun. We thought it would be a good time to remind parents of water safety tips and cautions since drowning is the leading preventable cause of death in children from one to four years old and is the second-most-common cause of preventable deaths in adolescents ages 15 – 19, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
We know kids love running through a sprinkler, playing at a water table, and swimming. Not only do these activities provide hours of a good time, water play and sports are great for building social and motor skills while learning to swim instills confidence. Let them have their fun this summer but help them stay safe around water by creating a safe environment for water activities and following our safety tips below.
Safety Tips:
Children should always be supervised when playing with water. Children can drown in as little as one-two inches of water, which mean even in a sink, bath, or a water table.
Invest in swim lessons with a certified instructor at an early age to help your child be safer around pools and large bodies of water. And take them swimming often so they can practice and hone their skills.
If your child doesn’t swim and uses floatation devices or a life vest, be sure that they fit properly.
When playing at pools and water parks, teach your children not to run or take part in rough play.
When visiting public pools, lakes, and beaches, look out for glass and other objects that little ones can step on as well as hot surfaces.
Enter bodies of water feet first.
Teach your children to always ask permission first before swimming if they have access to a pool.
Try to choose public swimming locations that have lifeguards on duty, but always remember it is your responsibility to supervise your child. Lifeguards are not babysitters.
Keep your young children within arms and eye’s reach while swimming.
Become CPR certified so that you can help during emergencies. If your child has other caregivers, ask if they are certified and if not, offer to help them sign up for a CPR/first aid course.
If you have a pool or are on vacation with a pool nearby, be sure to have a fence around the pool.
When outside, children should wear sunscreen and have it reapplied regularly. UV hats and protective clothing are good ideas for children who sunburn easily.
Keep children hydrated by drinking plenty of water when playing outside and in pools.
Empty water tables and buckets immediately when the water play is over to prevent accidents.
Water safety begins at home so teach your child to only play in water when supervised.
Summer Camp or Child Care Safety Questions to Ask:
What kind of water play is planned this summer?
How will you keep my child safe when swimming?
Has a child ever drowned or had a water-related emergency during your care?
What is the adult-to-child ratio during swimming?
What is the emergency plan if an accident occurs?
Will parents be given advance notice of water play days?
Do your child care workers know CPR? How many workers will be around during water activities? Can your staff swim?
Will you apply or reapply sunscreen on my child?
Water Play Ideas That Don’t Include Swimming:
Mix water with food coloring and let the kids paint outdoors. You can put the various color mixtures in spray bottles or open containers with a brush and let them paint on a roll of paper or an old sheet.
Help create scientists by letting them mix potions using water and other items such as food coloring and dish soap. Give them containers of all sizes and shapes and let them go to work.
Set up a baby washing area and give all the baby dolls in the room a bath. It’ll keep the kids busy and the dolls germ free!
You can create neat underwater worlds with a few water toys and a mixture of found objects. Have the children create a story as they play.
Find Other Safety Tips at:
