Five key layers of protection are:

1. Parent supervision

Nothing beats parent supervision. Proactive parent supervision is your most important tool in drowning prevention. When using the pool, active supervision means sitting close to the pool with your full attention on the child/children — no reading, no texting, just watching the pool. At parties/events, we recommend designating a person as a Water Watcher (we offer lanyards and whistles to give to the person to denote them), and change shifts every 15 minutes. Most drownings occur, though, when the child was thought to be in the house, nowhere near the pool area. In 67% of fatal drowning cases, a parent was responsible for supervising the child. So, supervision can and does fail, and that’s why you need additional layers of protection.

2. High locks on all doors and windows.

Locks out of the reach of children should be installed, and used, on every door and window that leads to the pool area. Lots of drownings happen because a parent didn’t know that the child had figured out the door knob, so don’t rely on the door being shut. Also, close up and doggy/pet doors that access the pool. Lots of children who drown got to the pool via a doggy door.

3. Pool Safety Fence

Pool fencing is the only layer of protection that physically isolates the backyard from the pool. Fences should be at least 4′ tall and have a self-closing, self-latching gate. Mesh pool safety fence, like Life Saver Pool Fence, has proven to be an effective layer of protection for over 45 years. It’s very transparent, aesthetically pleasing, and easy to remove when entertaining only adults.

4. Alarms

Drowning is silent. Alarms break that silence. There are door/window alarms, alarms that sit in the pool, and our favorite, the Safety Turtle which is worn on the child.  If the child falls into the pool, an alarm inside that house goes off.

5. Swimming Lessons

All children should receive swimming lessons as early as their parents and pediatricians feel comfortable. Swimming lessons can begin earlier than one might think, some organizations training even infants to roll over and float, and to swim to the edge of the pool in the event that they fall in. 

5.5 CPR

And if all of the other layers of protection fail, parents should be trained in CPR. Knowledge of CPR can make the difference between life, permanent disability, and death.

The post Five Layers of Water Safety Protection appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

Summer is finally here, and for lots of families across the country, summer means spending time playing and having fun in and around water. Keep your kids safe this summer by following my water safety tips.

Water Safety: Safety in the water comes down to two things – proper floatation gear and constant supervision. It’s always a good idea to enroll your child in swim lessons, so they can be more confident in the water. Invest in a good life jacket or floatation device. My boys love their water wings, and combined with constant supervision, they have served us well throughout the years.

Communication: Prior to engaging in water activities, talk to your child about safety precautions and dangers that may arise. You, of course, don’t want to scare your child, so I suggest purchasing a children’s book about water safety – you can read the book together prior to playing in the water and spend time discussing it with your child. The more your child knows about water and water safety, the more prepared they’ll be to play in the water.

Sun Protection: Keep a bag of supplies handy that includes all things sun related. You’ll need: a good waterproof 30 SPF (or higher) kid’s sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, a sun shirt and plenty of water. Because, as we all know – too much sun is never a good thing. Umbrellas and shade tents are excellent to have available as well. Be sure to apply sunscreen to your child’s skin 30 minutes prior to being outside, and once outside, reapply every 1 – 2 hours. Keep in mind it’s easy to dehydrate when spending a day under the sun, so bring plenty of liquids and pause for drink and shade breaks as often as possible.

In Case Of Emergency: As in any situation, remain calm and try for a quick rescue. If there’s a lifeguard on duty, alert the lifeguard of the situatioin, and call 911 right away.

I’ve lived close to the beach my whole life, and my children and I have spent lots of time in the water over the years. My main advice to you is to join in – when you’re swimming and playing alongside your child they’re less likely to have an accident.

Have fun and stay safe!

Sincerely,

Daddy Nickell

Robert Nickell, aka Daddy Nickell, father of 7, offers his “5 cents” worth of advice to expectant and new parents.  Daddy Nickell is the founder of Daddyscrubs.com, delivery room duds and daddy gifts and apparel, and the DaddyScrubs blog where he covers topics about parenting all from a Dad’s perspective.

The post Water Safety Tips for Kids appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.