Water Safety for the Whole Family | hioscar Blog | Oscar
Water Safety for the Whole Family
Be sure to familiarize yourself with the potential hazards and safety precautions of water activities.
General HealthClinically Speaking
3 min read
Share article
It's summertime and we know you're excited to get out there and enjoy the nice weather. But before you do that, it's important to talk a little bit about water safety. Did you know drowning is a leading cause of death among children from ages 1 to 4, and the third leading cause of death among children and adolescents from 5 to 19 years of age? Young children can drown in as little as an inch of water (opens in new tab), so it’s important to keep them within arm’s reach even when there's not a lot of water. Bathtubs, buckets, and other small containers of water should be emptied after each use, and stored away from a child’s reach.
Here are some important water safety tips to remember:
Learn how to swim - According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (opens in new tab), children as young as 1 year old can benefit from swim lessons. Basic swim skills include the ability to enter the water to surface, to turn around, to propel oneself at least 25 yards, to float or tread the water and to exit the water. Check out local swimming classes for kids and adults in your area.
Ensure that you’ve got the right safety equipment and precautions in place. Keep US Coast Guard approved life saving equipment nearby and know how to use them. This may include a pole, a rope, or personal flotation devices (PFD). Also, make sure to locate any drains in the pool and make sure that kids stay away from those to prevent things like hair and bathing suits from getting stuck, unless it's properly covered with weight bearing material.
Don’t leave children alone around water or at someone's home who has the pool. This also includes spas, wading pools, and when near irrigation, ditches, ponds, or other open standing water. The designated supervisor should be fully observant and not be on their phone, or involved in conversation. If the supervisor can no longer give the child or children undivided attention, there should be a formal handoff to another supervisor.
Bath time counts, too. Infants can tip over in the bath and children can slip and drown in just a couple inches of water. Infants should never be left alone in a bathtub. Water should also be emptied from receptacles that are around the house immediately after use to prevent toilet danger. Use a toilet lock unless you are in the bathroom with your child and know how to perform CPR.
When boating… Everyone should wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket, or PFD, and small children should wear life jackets as well - floaties or other wearable inflatables can deflate and are not designed for open water.
When it comes to water safety, you can never be too cautious. We hope you enjoy your summer and consider these water safety tips.
