Posted by Rebecca Wear Robinson on December 12, 2011 · 8 Comments
In the U.S., a disproportionate amount of press is given to children drowning in swimming pools, and while it’s true that children ages 1-5 are most likely to drown in swimming pools, it’s not the whole story, and I think it gives parents a false sense of security about water safety. It’s important to know the different dangers, and how to teach your children to navigate the dangers at any age.
So, let’s look at where children are most likely to drown at different ages and what you need to know:
Age: For infants, birth to one year, bathtubs pose the greatest danger. The statistics don’t break it down by months, but I’d guess it’s as soon as your baby can sit upright unsupported that you feel you can dash out of the bathroom to grab clean jammies, answer the phone, or stop a fight between your older kids. Or maybe you think they are safe in that bath seat with the suction cups on the bottom. Or you put the baby in with an older sibling who, you are sure, will raise the alarm if necessary.
Solution: Never, ever leave your child alone in the bathtub until they can swim the length of a 25m pool. Young children reach for toys and fall over. Those seats tip over – never trust them unless you are in the room, or don’t buy them in the first place. As for older siblings, well, they may feel a bit conflicted about your new bundle of joy and give a gentle push or not call if the baby falls over, but then know they did something wrong and not want to get in trouble. It takes one minute of submersion for brain damage to begin and two minutes to die.
Age: 1 to 5 – swimming pools.
Solution: Check out www.poolsafely.gov for great trips on keeping your pool safe. The best rule of all, tell your children to ALWAYS have an adult with them when they go near water. When I had a pool, the rule was no one could even go down the steps to where the fenced pool was without me. Period. This is one limit you need to set and stick to diligently. When your child is in the pool, you need to watch them, constantly. The lifeguard is not there to babysit and since I know you understand how hard it is to keep an eye on one child, imagine a lifeguard trying to watch 200 children. The most important strategy is to talk to your child regularly about how to act around water – no horseplay (dunking isn’t fun, it’s scary and dangerous), always have an adult nearby, and KNOW YOUR LIMITS!
Age: 6 to 12 – open water
Solution: Lifejackets in boats. Again, a non-negotiable rule. But beyond that, again, talk to your child, have them in regular swimming lessons, and help them to KNOW THEIR LIMITS. A tranquil pool is radically different from the wave pool at a water park or the surf off Santa Monica. For complete guidelines, Seattle Children’s Hospital is cutting edge. (insert link: http://www.seattlechildrens.org/classes-community/community-programs/drowning-prevention/open-water-guidelines/ )
Age: 13 to 18 – alcohol
Solution: It’s not just drinking and driving you need to be worried about, it’s drinking and drowning. Alcohol is the greatest contributing factor in drowning deaths for teenagers. By now, hopefully, you’ve been talking to your teenagers about the dangers of mixing alcohol and heavy machinery, you need to add in what happens when you mix with water. And again, teach them to KNOW THEIR LIMITS around water because teenage bravado, alcohol and water are an unforgiving combination.
All fairly dismal statistics, but as you know, I’m all about JOY! in the water. If you are teaching your child, from birth, to navigate water respectfully and safely, while they have fun, you have given them the greatest gift of all, you have taught them to navigate their environment independently and intelligently – and isn’t that what parenting is all about?
Children can drown in very little water. It is important to supervise them in the tub and in swimming pools at all times. It only takes a few seconds for something bad to happen.
So true Kenny. 2 inches of water and 2 minutes to die.
Nice post – One of our rules about the swimming pool was this: Nobody was allowed inside the fence that could not swim without a floatation device. Arm floaties are good but a vest is best. Just be-careful not to buy a vest that does not fit right, or your child may tip over.
It is to easy for the little ones to get in the pool, even while your sitting right there!
Thanks Mike and great rule! I’d take the rule one step further, those arm floaties can deflate or slip off really quickly. For a fun and safer alternative that kids actually love to wear I’m a big fan of SwimFin (www.swimfin.co.uk). You can get them in the States through Kiefer. They give the kids more mobility and still keep them afloat, though still not as safe as a vest, as you so correctly point out.
http://www.kiefer.com/ProductDetails/StyleMasterDetails.aspx?pid={dab308d4-1e38-4a21-8a76-1cd1dc4f6f24}&gid={dec370a2-500a-4f58-887e-44ceb11bea9f}&GroupName=Flotation%2c+Belts+%26+Suits&pname=SwimFin&Referer=&Alias=&ptct=SGR-SR&CTitle=&
Thank you addressing this very important topic. While you can NEVER waterproof a child, I feel it is very important to give every child the opportunity to learn to swim. Relying only on floatation devices and parental supervision to keep children safe is only a partial solution. I personally teach survival swimming skills through Infant Aquatics South Metro and have seen firsthand what children as young as 6 months are capable of accomplishing in the water. As we say at Infant Aquatics… Take Control, not Chances!
Great motto Emilly! And I agree, I’ve had my kids in the water since they were a few months old and they loved it as infants and still love it, and are safer from the consistent, positive exposure.
“Ut ceteri vivere possint” …….(.“So that others may live” ). Nearly 1,000 kids die each year by drowning. And most drownings occur in home swimming pools. It is the second leading cause of accidental death for people between the ages of 5 and 24
Wow Rebecca what you do is so very important , Iam very proud of you ,and your work.
Keep it up Rebecca
Patrick
Thanks Patrick! And while the numbers are horrendous in high-income countries like the U.S., in low-income countries it is a real epidemic. One child drowns every minute.