Be well: Prevent drowning with these child water safety tips

05/23/2023

The opening of swimming pools is synonymous with the start of summer — and it’s also the perfect time for a refresher on water safety.

Drowning is the most common cause of death for children ages one to four in the U.S., and is the second leading cause for kids between age five and 14, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Dr. Corinne Bria, pediatric emergency medicine physician at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando, Florida, said the single most important tool to prevent drowning in children is knowledge.

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“As a pediatrician, it is my responsibility to educate parents and caregivers about how to prevent drownings,” she told Fox News Digital.

“Drowning can happen to anyone. No one is immune to this devastation, and it’s important to know and take active steps to ensure water safety.”

Drowning is the most common cause of death for children ages one to four in the U.S. — and it is the second leading cause for kids between five and 14, according to the CDC. (iStock)

Here’s what Bria wants parents and caregivers to know about keeping kids safe in pools and other bodies of water.

Ensure proper supervision

When it comes to water safety, pediatricians frequently talk about “direct supervision” or “touch supervision,” Bria said.

These are both important strategies to prevent drowning, which is a silent process, she added.

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“Touch supervision means an adult is physically in the water, holding and playing with the children,” she said.

“Direct supervision means there is a designated adult, a water watcher, who is monitoring the children in and around the water,” Bria went on. “The water watcher sits by the pool or walks around the pool, continuously watching the children in and around the water.”

Choose a proper flotation device

Children should always wear life jackets when around a body of water, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

For their protection, children should always wear life jackets when around a body of water, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). (iStock)

The AAP recommends using U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets or life preservers based on the weight of the child.

“It’s important to test the fit of the life vest on the child prior to use to ensure the vest is snug around the waist,” Bria said. “This prevents [children] from slipping out of an ill-sized vest while in the water.”

Use caution even around shallow water

Infants and small children can drown in as little as two inches of water, including in bathtubs, toilets and 5-gallon buckets, Bria pointed out.

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“It is important to supervise babies, toddlers and small children around all forms of water, both inside and outside the home,” she said.

Enclose all pools with fences

A majority (58%) of the drownings among kids age four and younger happened at home in a pool or spa between 2013 and 2015, according to the AAP.

Enclosing all pools with a fence is the single most effective way to prevent drownings, the AAP states on its website. (iStock)

Enclosing all pools with a fence is the single most effective way to prevent drownings, the AAP notes on its website.

The fence should have four sides, be at least four feet high, be climb-proof and have a self-closing, self-latching gate that children can’t reach.

Enroll your child in swim lessons

Participation in formal swimming lessons was linked to an 88% decrease in drowning risks among children between 1 and 4 years old, studies have shown.