Water Safety for Babies
Introducing your baby to water can be exciting. The important thing is to actively supervise your baby in and around water and to keep your baby's bath and play areas free from hazards.
Top Safety Tips
- Never leave your child unattended around water. We know it sounds strict, but there is no room for compromise on this one. Babies can drown in as little as one inch of water.
- Children in baby bath seats and rings must be watched every second. They can slip out of bath seats, fall out of baby tubs, or tip forward or sideways into the water and drown in seconds. The main problem is lack of supervision – usually for a short period of time.
- Keep toilet lids closed and use toilet seat locks to prevent drowning. Keep doors to bathrooms and laundry rooms closed.
- Empty all tubs, buckets, containers and wading pools immediately after use. Store them upside down and out of children’s reach.
- When using inflatable or portable pools remember to empty them immediately after use. Store them upside down and out of children’s reach. These types of pools can pose a drowning risk.
- New parents have a million things to do, but learning CPR should be on the top of the list. It will give you tremendous peace of mind – and the more peace of mind you have as a parent, the better.
Water Safety for Little Kids
Water is so much more exciting now that your little kid can splash and swim and dunk his or her head. It's also a time when active supervision and basic childproofing is critical - no exceptions. The best part is it's a great way to connect with your child with no distractions.
Top Safety Tips
- Keep toilet lids closed and use toilet seat locks to prevent drowning. Keep doors to bathrooms and laundry rooms closed.
- Never leave your child unattended around water. We know it sounds strict, but there is no room for compromise on this one. Babies can drown in as little as one inch of water.
- A swimming pool is a ton of fun for you and your kids. Make sure backyard pools have four-sided fencing that's at least 4 feet high and a self-closing, self-latching gate to prevent a child from wandering into the pool area unsupervised.
- Teach kids never to go near or in water without an adult present. Remember that things such as water wings, noodles and other items can create a false sense of security for children and should not be used in place of life jackets.
- Stay alert at public pools. Don't assume someone else is watching your child. Here are a few more water safety tips around public pools, in the ocean, at lakes or other bodies of water.
- New parents have a million things to do, but learning CPR should be on the top of the list. It will give you tremendous peace of mind - and the more peace of mind you have as a parent, the better.
- Make sure your home pool or spa has a proper drain cover or shut-off function to prevent long hair, loose clothing or body parts from getting trapped.
- Empty all tubs, buckets, containers and wading pools immediately after use. Store them upside down and out of children's reach.
- Every child is different, so enroll your children in swimming lessons when you feel they are ready. Teach children how to tread water and float.
- When using inflatable or portable pools, remember to empty them immediately after use. Store them upside down and out of children's reach. These types of pools can pose a drowning risk.
Water Safety For Big Kids
Being a big kid in the water means splashing around, playing games, using fun water toys and even learning how to swim for the first time. Learn how to make your pool or spa a safe place for kids.
Top Safety Tips
- Make sure your home pool or spa has a proper drain cover or shut-off function to prevent long hair, loose clothing or body parts from getting trapped.
- Every child is different, so enroll your child in swimming lessons when you feel he or she is ready. Teach children how to tread water and float.
- Teach kids never to go near or in water without an adult present. Remember that things such as water wings, noodles and other items can create a false sense of security for children and should not be used in place of life jackets.
- Whether you're swimming in a backyard pool or in a lake, teach children to swim with a partner, every time. Do not allow children to swim alone.
- Install a door alarm, a window alarm or both to alert you if a child wanders into the pool area unsupervised.
- Depending on your child's age and maturity level, stay alert at public pools.
- Don't assume someone else is watching your child.
Water Safety For Teens
Older kids get a kick out of doing cannonballs and generally having fun in the water. Help keep kids safe with these simple tips.
Top Safety Tips
- Whether you're swimming in a backyard pool or in a lake, teach children to swim with a partner, every time. Do not allow children to swim alone.
- Make sure your home pool or spa has a proper drain cover or shut-off function to prevent long hair, loose clothing or body parts from getting trapped. For new pools or hot tubs, install multiple drains or use a no-drain circulation system.
- Regularly check to make sure drain covers are secure and have no cracks, and replace flat drain covers with dome-shaped ones.
- Teach your children pool rules, such as never playing or swimming near drains or suction outlets.
- Have your children learn CPR. It's a skill that will serve them for a lifetime.
- Depending on your child's age and maturity level, stay alert at public pools. Don't assume someone else is watching your child.
