After a long winter in Maine, families are excited to visit pools, lakes, and beaches to cool off, exercise, relax, and socialize. Setting some precautions ahead of time, however, can help ensure this special time not only remains fun but safe.
Drowning is a significant risk, being the single leading cause of injury death for children ages 1 to 4, and it is one of the top causes of death for teens. Kristy Perkowski, DO, pediatrician at Northern Light Mercy shares, “Drowning can be silent, happen quickly, and can occur in as little as an inch or two of water. Unexpected, unsupervised access to water, including swimming pools, hot tubs, bathtubs, natural bodies of water and standing water can be especially dangerous, particularly with toddlers who are naturally curious and not aware of the dangers around them.” For this reason, pool fencing with self-closing and latching gates and door locks are recommended.
Dr. Perkowski, continues, “Teens may know how to swim, but they can also be overconfident in their swimming abilities. Be aware that lakes, rivers, oceans, ponds and other natural bodies of water can have unexpected hazards like waves, currents, sudden drop-offs and limited visibility that can lead to drowning.” To ensure everyone stays safe, she says the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends using multiple layers of protection around water, as no single step can prevent all accidents.
Here are some top recommendations for protection that can be implemented:
- No one, adult or child, should ever swim alone.
- Swim lessons: Encourage swim lessons as early as a child is ready. Research has shown that swim lessons for children age 1 and older can reduce the risk of drowning.
- Supervision: Provide constant, close adult supervision without distractions. Children can slip away from the watchful eyes of adults in seconds. It happens every day.
- Even when there are lifeguards, assign an adult “water watcher” whose responsibility is to pay constant attention to the children in and around the water. This adult should eliminate all distractions, including cell phone use and engaging in other activities, while watching.
- Life jackets: Everyone, even strong swimmers, should use US Coast Guard-approved life jackets near open water. US Coast Guard approved devices meet strict safety and performance standards to ensure protection.
- Diving rules: Diving headfirst into shallow water can result in brain and spinal cord injuries as well as death. Always enter the water feet first, especially when going in for the first time when the depth is not known. Never dive into above-ground pools or the shallow end of a pool.
Looking for more information on how you can best keep your child safe this summer? Make an appointment with a Northern Light pediatrician.