Prevent Your Child from Drowning
Georgia summers are hot, and families love to escape the humidity and heat at water parks, pools, splash pads, lakes and Georgia beaches. But, before you grab the sunscreen and arm floats, make sure you are prepared to keep your child as safe as possible as drowning is the leading cause of accidental death for children under five years old. And, if you identify as BIPOC, the chances of drowning are 2+ more times higher than white people.
The good news is that drowning is preventable. The best way to keep your child safe from drowning is for you both to know basic swimming and water safety skills. If you do not know how to swim, you are in good company as more than 30% of people learning to swim are adults. And if you know how to swim, more than likely your child will learn too.
There are organizations in Georgia that provide free or some financial assistance to help families afford swimming lessons. Conduct an internet search for “free swim lessons near me” and see what turns up. In Atlanta, the Metro Atlanta YMCA is sponsoring lessons; free swim lessons are being offered in Dougherty County through a partnership with Swim for Life as well as Albany YMCA, the City of Albany, and the Boys and Girls Club of Albany.
Children can drown in as little as one-two inches of water so should be supervised at all times. See our safety tips below.
Drowning Prevention Tips:
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.
Enter bodies of water feet first.
Teach your children to always ask permission first before swimming if they have access to a pool, and never let them swim alone.
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. Most people drown within 10 yards of safety.
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 a locked/latched fence surrounds the pool.
Empty water tables and buckets immediately when the water play is over to prevent drowning accidents.
Kids love all kinds of water play such as running through a sprinkler, playing at a water table, and throwing water balloons. These activities provide loads of fun and build social and motor skills too. Try some of the ideas below on days you don’t want to leave the house but need to cool off.
Creative Play Ideas Using Water
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 more water safety tips and activities with these resources:
Drowning Prevention for Curious Toddlers: What Parents Need to Know
23 Easy & Fun Water Play Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers
