At What Age Are They “Old Enough” to Swim Unsupervised?

Last updated on July 6th, 2018 at 01:08 pm

When should you allow your child to go to a pool or beach without adult supervision? How old is ‘old enough’?

Stefanie (from PediatricSafety.net) alerted me to an interesting article last week that prompted the question – a 14-year old girl saved her 10-year old brother from drowning while the two played at a hotel pool, unsupervised. No charges were filed against the parent because 10 was deemed ‘old enough’ by the local police to be in the pool without adult supervision.

But there was no mention of either child’s swimming abilities. Could the 10-year old swim? Could he truly swim or just paddle a bit? How responsible was the younger brother? Was he a dare-devil or a cautious kid? How deep was the water? Was he tired or jet-lagged? Did he have any physical, emotional or mental issues that would have impaired his abilities or judgment? There are plenty of guidelines that tell us what age and weight our child has to be to change car seats. Laws dictate when our child can drive, drink and vote. But water safety is the great unknown – so many variables that are hard to measure.

So how do parents determine if a child is ‘old enough’ to be unsupervised at a pool or beach? Broward County in Florida is on the cutting edge of water safety and they recommend a minimum age of 12, though some experts believe it should be even higher.

Until national standards are developed, as a parent I’d set 12 as the minimum age (though I’m feeling better with 15), but I’d also look closely at all the other variables. Is your child a truly competent swimmer? (ask their swim teacher, don’t rely on your judgement or your child’s) Who else will be in the pool? Are they competent swimmers or could your child get in trouble with a panic-stricken friend who could pull someone under? How many children? More children = more adrenalin = more potential trouble. Is it a pool or open water? If it’s open water does your child have experience in that particular kind of open water? A river is different from a lake which is different from an ocean.

As parents, if we do our job right our child grow up to self-regulate their behavior and make responsible decisions, but it’s also our job to keep them safe until those skills are in place. Besides, volunteering for pool patrol is a pretty nice way to spend the summer!

I’d love to know your thoughts!

Keep Them Safe and Happy this Labor Day Weekend

Last updated on March 3rd, 2018 at 01:06 pm

Summer’s over!

Labor Day weekend is upon us. The days are getting shorter and the nights a little cooler. I’m even seeing a few leaves beginning to drop. Kids are back in school or will be soon. Parents are scrambling to organize fall activity schedules. Sadly many of the outdoor community pools where so many of us spent relaxed and happy summer afternoons will be closing this weekend. The pools will probably be packed with kids and parents enjoying one last blast of summer fun. Make sure your summer ends on a good note and don’t let you guard down – be in arm’s reach of your learning or non-swimmers and keep a close eye on the competent swimmers in your family. It’s been a very hot summer all over the northern hemisphere (as it was in the southern hemisphere during their summer) and drowning rates are up as people flocked to pools, rivers, lakes and the ocean to keep cool and have fun, but didn’t know how to have fun safely.

Having fun is a key point and one that can be easily overlooked with all the tragedy of drowning accidents. Kids naturally have fun in the water from the time they are put in their first bath right through to splashing in puddles, slippery slides, catching tadpoles, floating boats and swimming. Is there a person out there who hasn’t involuntarily smiled when they see the exuberance on a child’s face as they race through a fountain or splash in a rain puddle?

While water can be a lot of fun, a source of life, and a fact of daily life since it covers 70% of the earth’s surface, we must also never lose sight of the fact that water can be dangerous – drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death for children in every developed country and an even bigger problem in developing countries. Teach your child how to have fun safely – teach them water safety and teach them to swim. Don’t just put them in swim lessons in the summer, swimming is a great exercise year-round, not to mention a great way to burn off steam during the cold months and an excellent time for them to develop the swimming and safety skills in time for next summer’s fun. When you’re looking at the activities for fall and winter, add swimming lessons to the list. The only problem you will probably have is fighting with your kids to get out of the water afterwards, especially if you build in a few minutes of ‘play’ time after the lesson, but the reward will be exhausted, happy, and safer kids.

As for this weekend, remember you don’t need to keep them out of the water to protect them…just keep them within reach. Wishing you and your family a happy and safe Labor Day weekend!

Summer Days

Last updated on June 21st, 2018 at 06:25 pm

So far between Memorial Day and the 4th of July, over 70 children have already drowned and there have been another 80 near drownings. Since this heatwave began just a few days ago, over 9 people have died from heat-related events. Being outside in 100-degree weather causes adults to lose a quart of water each hour. Water loss in children is proportional. Very young children are more susceptible. And the effects of the heat- may be fatal in as little as a day.

Temperatures on the asphalt are typically ten degrees more than surrounding grass. And autos- even with windows ‘cracked’ may reach temperatures in excess of 130 degrees in just a few minutes. This is never a safe place for kids or pets-not even for a few seconds-NEVER. Don’t do it. It’s also difficult to know the right thing to do when it comes to kids sports activities such as little league and youth soccer. When is it too hot? When should a game be called on account of heat?

You rarely if ever hear of a little league game being called due to heat but at least once a year there is a headline about a child who dies playing in the incredible heat. And we wonder why, why did they play? No kid wants to be the wimp and no parent wants to be the only one- the only holdout who hears, ‘but Mom all the other kids still get to go.’ Here are some tips to help keep your child safe this summer.

Pool Safety-What can you do?

• Never let kids swim alone- keep a close eye- look for problems. If you can’t keep a dedicated eye- postpone your child’s swim even if you must endure some whining.
• Make sure all pools are fenced and gated. Invest in floating alarms.
• Keep flotation devices poolside.
• If your pool is not deep- is not designed for diving- tell kids it’s not allowed- mean it.
• Learn CPR

This Heat- What can you do.

• Keep water handy. Drink up before you feel thirsty- stay ahead of dehydration. Alcoholic and caffeinated beverages are not as good as water and sports drinks.
• Keep kids cool especially infants they simply have the same temperature regulation capability that we do.
• Same with seniors- the most dangerous place for many seniors is in their home. Either they have no AC or won’t use it due to limited funds. Take them to a senior center, mall or cooling station.
• If you must go outside for any time- WEAR SUNSCREEN.
• If a person in this heat stops sweating get help immediately- this may be heat stroke- a serious medical emergency.
• Learn CPR

Sports Activities- What can you do?

• Speak up- voice your concerns- talk to other parents and coaches.
• Have these discussions with league authorities prior to the first game being played. There are similar understandings and rules for when there is lightning in the area. Make it a rule.
• Get a doctor involved. Perhaps one of the parents is a doctor and can help set realistic guidelines.
• Remember too that this is not a safe environment for grandparents, siblings, and others with heart and other health problems.
• If it comes down to it- when all else fails, even if you are the only one- keep your child back if you feel its too damn hot.

You’re Invited

Last updated on March 3rd, 2018 at 01:16 pm

I’m a paramedic and I invite you to put me out of business. And while you are at it to put a lot of emergency room doctors and nurses out of business as well. Here’s how:

• The very first time you put your child in a car- home from the hospital, have him or her in an age appropriate car seat.
• As your child grows, switch to an appropriate booster. And your little one always sees Mom and Dad, and the grandparents and siblings in seatbelts- always.
• Your child never sees your drive under the influence and never sees you text and drive- never.
• You build a fence around your pool and teach your children to swim and to never swim alone.
• Your child is taught its cool to wear a helmet while learning to ride a bike and long after- same with skates and roller blades.
• You teach and practice good nutrition- healthy eating introducing a variety of different foods.
• You exercise, ride or walk, play golf or tennis, canoe or ski. You teach your child that exercise is as fun- often better than a life of only TV and video games.
• You don’t smoke and don’t allow smokers around your kids.\You talk to your kids about the internet and internet safety. You get to know your child’s friends.
• You learn and teach appropriate stress management that does not involve alcohol, drugs or overindulging in food.

You teach that peace is preferred to fighting and love- especially of oneself – is the greatest gift of all.

Kid-Safe Your Backyard

Last updated on March 3rd, 2018 at 02:14 pm

The warmer weather is coming, and you’ll soon be preparing to transform your backyard into a summer playground. To keep the kids safe, follow these childproofing guidelines to cut back on the hidden hazards in your backyard and to make your summer play zone a safe place to be.

• Carefully inspect your playground equipment. According to the National Program for Playground Safety over 200,000 children per year are injured on playgrounds. Since most of these injuries are a result of falls, be sure that you have a proper shock absorbing surface underneath your play set. 12 inches of sand, mulch or rubber matting will offer your kids the best protection. You’ll also want to be sure that your play set is properly anchored to the ground, that surfaces are smooth, that protruding bolts are repaired and that all “S” shaped hooks are fully closed. Check your slide for any sharp edges and be sure that there is a clear exit area for sliders.
• Think twice about trampolines. If the nearly 250,000 trampoline injuries reported each year (according to the American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons) has not convinced you to steer clear of this backyard accessory, if you opt to purchase a trampoline for your kids, be sure it is a spring-less model that has a full safety enclosure. Since a majority of trampoline injuries occur from children colliding with other jumpers, it’s vitally important to continuously supervise your kids at play.
• Sandbox safety. If your sandbox is built directly on the ground, be sure to line it with landscape fabric to prevent weeds from growing up and to facilitate water drainage. You’ll also want to fill your sandbox with “sandbox sand.” Sold at home improvement stores, sandbox sand is smoother and cleaner than regular sand. You’ll also need to invest in a cover to keep pets and rodents (and their droppings!) out. Place a 5 gallon bucket upside down in your sandbox and properly secure a plastic tarp onto the sandbox. The bucket will prevent water from pooling on the top of the tarp which can be a safety issue for your kids and a breeding ground for bugs.
• Landscape Supplies and Equipment. Your kids are naturally curious and won’t hesitate to explore. Be sure all power equipment and lawn treatment products are stored and secured in a locked shed.
• Decks. Be sure to measure the space between the railing slots on your deck. If they are wide enough for your kids to trap a limb, utilize safety netting. You’ll also want to be sure a hard mounted gate is attached to the top and bottom of the stairs.
• Pools. Be sure your pool is properly barricaded. Install a fence that is at least 4 feet tall and be sure that there are no weak areas that your kids can squeeze through. Be sure the gate has a self-locking mechanism that your kids can’t open. You may also want to invest in a gate or pool alarm that will alert you if the gate has been opened or if someone falls into the pool. Remove steps and ladders when the pool isn’t in use (and keep step stools and ladders away from all fences). Never leave the cover halfway on your pool, as your child could swim under and become stuck. If your patio door leads directly to the pool, lock and alarm it. Inflatable pools should be drained, deflated and stored and secured when not in use.
• Check fences. Check your fence for loose hardware, splinters and missing slats. Be sure pickets are less than 5 inches apart and that there are no sharp edges for your kids to get caught on.
• Outdoor furniture. Be sure your outdoor seating is sturdy and safe. Secure garden swings properly to the ground and check to ensure cushions are securely fastened to seating.
• Koi Ponds. Fish ponds pose a special backyard hazard for children as their shallow depth can give parents, children and caregivers a false sense of security. Be sure pools of water of any depth are properly barricaded to prevent unauthorized access.
• Outdoor Outlets. Replace outdoor outlets with childproof outlets that your kids can’t open.
• BBQ’s and Grills. When not in use, store and secure grilling equipment. Propane tanks, matches, lighter fluid and sharp cooking utensils should all be inaccessible to your kids. When in use, never leave the cooking area unsupervised and be sure that the unit it cooled completely before storing away.
• Clothing. Require your kids to wear proper footwear and snug fit clothing when playing outdoors. Avoid articles of clothing with drawstrings or accessories that can easily become caught on play equipment.
• Establish Clear Boundaries and Rules. Having a list of backyard rules can help guide your kids in safe play. Establish any areas that are off limits, rules for riders on slides, trampolines and other play toys and safety guidelines for using play equipment.

While childproofing your backyard can help eliminate common safety hazards and create a safer environment for your children to play in, even the best safety measures do not substitute for parental supervision.

Swimming Pool Safety

Last updated on August 30th, 2015 at 05:31 pm

I was born and raised in Hawaii where I grew up surfing and swimming on both racing and synchronized swimming teams. I later became a lifeguard and swim instructor and even swam with dolphins and whales in the open ocean. Yet, it wasn’t until I moved to Arizona that I heard of more drownings than I had ever heard about prior to arriving here 3 years ago.

I was puzzled as to why until I realized that many of the people here simply don’t understand that there is no such thing as a ‘water-safe’ child and that no child, even one who can swim, can ever be near a swimming pool unless an adult is free to watch that child every single moment, just as a life-guard is trained to do. This is the only way a child can be safe, since drowning happens in a few short minutes. Thus, anyone who has a pool would be wise to take this black and white approach to water-safety and to never even think of cutting corners on this rule.

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