Water safety
Swimming is FUN. It is one of my favorite things about summertime.
But I think many parents significantly underestimate the dangers of bodies of water. So I want to walk through some of my top tips to keep your kids safe this summer.
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TW: this post discusses drowning injuries.
My posts are generally designed to be reassuring rather than anxiety-provoking, and I apologize that this one is less so. But this post may save a life and so it is worth discussing frankly and honestly.
If you’re worried about dry drowning, check out this post.
The Swiss cheese model
This model of risk mitigation has long been used in healthcare, the aviation industry, emergency management, and even in defense. The idea is that having multiple layers of safety ensures that even if some risk measures fail, there are others to help prevent (or minimize) disaster.
It’s a good model to think about drowning, partly because we don’t have a lot of great research.
The good news? Drowning is still a low risk event (which is why it is hard to study in any type of controlled way).
The bad news? It is the leading cause of death in children aged 1-4 years in the US, and the second leading cause of accidental death in older children. The risk is low but in comparison with other risks our children face, it remains significant.
The stats
According to the CDC, every year there are an estimated 11 drowning deaths per DAY in children & 22 non-fatal drowning incidents (see my dry drowning post to understand the difference). And the important thing to know is that ANY body of water can be risky - fountains, creeks, water buckets, as well as pools and lakes and bathtubs. In fact, for infants under 12 months, two thirds of drowning deaths occur in bathtubs.
What you need to remember: drowning does NOT look like the way it is depicted on TV. You are unlikely to see a child thrashing or yelling for help. It is often silent and it can happen within seconds. In the time it takes to step out from the bathroom to get the towel when your child is in the tub.
So how to we best prevent it?
As I discussed above, approaching water safety using multiple layers is the most effective way to make sure that you have back-up fail safes in the event something goes wrong.
Here are 7 of my top tips.
Put down your phone. The text can wait. The TikTok can wait. If your child is in or near water, they need an adult watching them 100% of the time. This is true regardless of
whether there is a lifeguard present
whether your child has had swimming lessons/knows how to swim
whether they’re wearing flotation devices
whether other adults are around (unless one has been designated as a “water watcher” - see below).
Arms Reach: Especially for younger children, stay within arms reach at all times. This means that you can reach out to touch them any time they are in (or ideally even near) water. Parents have a tendency to assume that putting their child in a puddle jumper or other floatation device means they are protected against drowning, but we don’t really have any evidence that this
is the case.
Be extra vigilant during the time periods when no one is swimming. It is very easy for a curious child to slip out while parents are making dinner, putting away groceries, showering. Make sure there is a foolproof way to prevent them from getting to the pool, either by using door covers, locks, or some of the other measures listed below.
The Pediatrician Mom Tip: If you notice your child is missing, the pool should be the first place you look.
Use a “Water Watcher” system. Intentionally set up specific shifts for specific adults who have dedicated responsibility for watching the kids. These can be 10-15 minutes but the adult must be sober and alert. If there are many kids, pick TWO adults.
Swimming lessons. It is important for everyone above age 1y to learn to swim. The AAP recommends starting swimming lessons after 12 months, and having had swim lessons reduces the risk of drowning.
I get asked about ISR a lot in this context, and I understand why the idea is appealing. But there is no evidence that swimming lessons before the age of 12 months can make a difference in drowning outcomes (although the internet is full of anecdotes). Additionally, remember that for infants under 12mo, most drownings occur in bathtubs.
CPR. Really, please go get trained. Effective, timely CPR (even just a few seconds earlier) can save a life. Many hospitals and other organizations have classes.
Coast-guard approved life jackets. If your child is in or on a boat, or near a river, it is very tempting to skip the life jackets, especially because so many children complain about them. But children are unpredictable around water, so these are like seatbelts: put them on every single time. Always make sure to pick jackets that are officially Coast Guard Approved.
If you have a pool…
Many households have pools, and when we were looking I admit to being very tempted by a house that did have a pool. In the end, it wasn’t the right choice for us, but if it were, there would be certain specific criteria that we would focus on when it came to safety.
As a reminder, for homes that don’t have a pool but have fountains or koi ponds or anything else of the sort, these should ideally have the same measures!
Four sided fence with a minimum height of 4 feet: Many homes have a three-sided fence around their pool separating it from the neighbors, but no actual wall or fence separating it from the house itself. I know they’re not pretty… but this is essential.
Gates: All gates should be self-latching, with latch mechanisms that are out of reach of children. Keep everything locked and double check after pool cleaners or gardeners leave.
Pool covers: Pick covers that cover the entire pool, require some type of mechanism (ideally childproof) to remove, and support the weight of multiple children.
Pool drains: The suction on these can be intense, and it is easy for hair or swimsuit straps to get caught. Make sure all pool drains and cleaning systems have safety drain covers.
Pool alarms: There are now many sophisticated products available that alert you if the pool perimeter is breached, as well as others that can alert you if there is motion in the water. Remember, multiple layers of safety is what you need.
The Pediatrician Mom Tip: Even without a pool, our house has an alarm system that is set up to announce out loud any time a window or door is opened. This ensures that if a toddler tries to sneak out, the supervising adult is aware immediately.
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It may not seem that way after this Debbie Downer post, but I promise, I love swimming and summertime! My goal with writing this is to provide some actionable steps every adult can take to make sure that the summer is filled only with the best memories.
