Sunday Post: Water…and Some Summer Water Safety Tips for Parents

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Jake at Time after Time has a Sunday Post Challenge and every week he provides a theme…this week’s theme is WATER.

 

WATER: provides a wonderful intergenerational recreational opportunity.

 

WATER: gives parents a chance to help kids master skills and develop an appreciation for preserving nature and the environment.

 

WATER: Kids and water go together like peanut butter and jelly…it’s cooling, refreshing and so much fun!

With the official start of summer only several days away, kids will be home and enjoying many water-related activities.  Water is one of the most ominous hazards your child will encounter because young children can drown in only a few inches of water, even if they’ve had swimming instruction. 

 Here are few important water safety tips to keep in mind from the American Academy of Pediatrics:

  • Be aware of small bodies of water your child might encounter, such as bathtubs, fishponds, ditches, fountains, rain barrels, even the bucket you use when you wash the car. Empty containers of water when you’re done using them.
  • Children who are swimming—even in a shallow toddler’s pool—always should be watched by an adult, preferably one who knows CPR. The adult should be within arm’s length, providing “touch supervision” whenever infants, toddlers, or young children are in or around water. Empty and put away inflatable pools after each play session.
  • Enforce safety rules: No running near the pool and no pushing others underwater.
  • Don’t allow your child to use inflatable toys or mattresses in place of a life jacket. These toys may deflate suddenly, or your child may slip off them into water that is too deep for him.
  • Be sure the deep and shallow ends of any pool your child swims in are clearly marked. Never allow your child to dive into the shallow end.
  • Backyard swimming pools, (including large, inflatable above-ground pools), should be completely surrounded with at least a 4-foot (1.2 meters) high fence that completely separates the pool from the house. The fence should have a self-closing and self-latching gate that opens away from the pool, with the latch at least 54 inches high. Check the gate frequently to be sure it is in good working order. Keep the gate closed and locked at all times. Be sure your child cannot manipulate the lock or climb the fence. No opening under the fence or between uprights should be more than 4 inches (10 cm) wide. Keep toys out of the pool area when not in use so that children are not tempted to try to get through the fence.
  • If your pool has a cover, remove it completely before swimming. Also, never allow your child to walk on the pool cover; water may have accumulated on it, making it as dangerous as the pool itself. Your child also could fall through and become trapped underneath. Do not use a pool cover in place of a four-sided fence because it is not likely to be used appropriately and consistently.
  • Keep a safety ring with a rope beside the pool at all times. If possible, have a phone in the pool area with emergency numbers clearly marked.
  • Spas and hot tubs are dangerous for young children, who can easily drown or become overheated in them. Don’t allow young children to use these facilities.
  • Your child should always wear a life jacket when he swims or rides in a boat. A life jacket fits properly if you can’t lift it off over your child’s head after he’s been fastened into it. For the child under age five, particularly the non swimmer, it also should have a flotation collar to keep the head upright and the face out of the water.
  • Adults should not drink alcohol when they are swimming. It presents a danger for them as well as for any children they might be supervising.
  • Be sure to eliminate distractions while children are in the water. Talking on the phone, working on the computer, and other tasks need to wait until children are out of the water. 

 

Children love to mimic the behavior of their parents…use this to your benefit and always follow good water safety rules yourself and your children will naturally copy you.

I hope parents (and others who know people with young kids) will check out my book for great summertime activities that the whole family will enjoy!  Show Me How! Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem Through Reading, Crafting and Cooking is a treasure-trove of classic picture book suggestions, quick and easy eco-friendly arts and crafts projects and simple healthful child-friendly recipes that will make planning for the summer a snap!  Check out this recent review from Tom at Your Family Book Club.  His library in Katona, Iowa is receiving a copy of Show Me How!  The book is available on my website or on Amazon.

Want more information about Jake’s Sunday Post?

 http://jakesprinters.wordpress.com/ 

And here are some other bloggers who are doing Jake’s Sunday Post:

http://p0nky.wordpress.com/2012/06/09/sunday-post-water-sunset-in-water/

http://jmeyersforeman.wordpress.com/2012/05/30/3183/

http://northernnarratives.wordpress.com/2012/06/09/sunday-post-water/

http://myphotoyear2012.wordpress.com/2012/06/09/9th-june-2012-sunday-post-water-h2o/

http://alicethroughthemacrolens.wordpress.com/2012/06/09/sunday-post-water-h2o/

http://firstandfabulous.wordpress.com/2012/06/09/sunday-post-water-h2o/

http://motherwifestudentworker.wordpress.com/2012/06/09/weekly-sunday-post-water/

http://catbirdphotography.wordpress.com/2012/06/10/sunday-post-water-h2o/

http://abusymom.wordpress.com/2012/06/10/sunday-post-water-h2o/

http://jayjaysfavorites.wordpress.com/2012/06/10/waterdragon-weekly-sunday-post-water-h2o/

http://justfletcher.wordpress.com/2012/06/10/sunday-post-water-h2o/

http://50yearproject.wordpress.com/2012/06/10/sunday-post-water/

http://blueberriejournal.wordpress.com/2012/06/10/water/

http://rondomtaliedraai.wordpress.com/2012/06/10/sunday-post-water-h2o/

http://pollysspace.wordpress.com/2012/06/10/sunday-post-h2o/

http://africatoalgarve.blogspot.pt/2012/06/water.html

http://francineinretirement.wordpress.com/2012/06/10/sunday-post-water/

http://lucidgypsy.wordpress.com/2012/06/10/sunday-post-water-h2o/

http://tostir.wordpress.com/2012/06/10/sunday-post-water/

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25 thoughts on “Sunday Post: Water…and Some Summer Water Safety Tips for Parents”

  3. Great work Vivian I really love your post for this week theme,
    I love your parents and kids water activities thanks for sharing 🙂

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    • Thank you so much, Yulia…I have been not good about visiting my favorite bloggers and commenting…I will be over to read yours later tonight. 🙂  Glad my tips will be helpful to you this summer!   

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    • That is often how it is…all around the world…too much rain…or too little!  Mother Nature is not easy to predict. 🙂  Thank you for your kind words about the post…I’m happy you liked it. 🙂   

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  10. Great post, Vivian. I love the “stay within Touch distance”…awesome guidelines you’ve posted. They should be spread everywhere. Too many people are not staying within Touch. They let their little ones wander out in the water by themselves. Here’s a story that influenced me to keep within Touch distance of my kids when they were near water.

    I remember sitting next to a friend’s 4 yr old grandson on their dock at a small lake, years ago when I was a teenager. My mom was on the other side of him. In a split second that little boy had slipped off the dock and was in the water. It was shallow and I got him back up on the dock. I’ll always remember how quickly and silently that happened, and all three of us were sitting snugly together! Things can happen amazingly fast….and quietly. It’s scary.

    Again…great post and photos, Vivian!

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    • Yes, you are so right, Judy…and I really appreciate your sharing that story. I was brought up by a dad who was deathly afraid of the water…and unfortunately, he passed that fear along to me. I made sure our kids had pro swimming lessons when they were young…and was always diligent about being in “touch” range. Because you shared your wonderful story, I’ll share something that happened to me. As I said, I am not a lover of water or pools…but did “learn” to swim in High School and College…although I probably couldn’t save myself.:( In fact, one summer, when my daughter was about 8, I took her to the local community pool (where lifeguards were on duty) and sat on the edge of the deep end while she (and many other children and adults) dove/jumped in and swam around. She asked if I would swim with her…and even though I was hesitant and uncomfortable about doing it, I did it anyway…jumping in. As soon as the water closed over my head, the uncomfortable feeling became anxiety and the anxiety became a panic attack and I floundered…feeling like I was drowning, even though I was only a little more than an arm’s length from the edge of the pool. Fortunately, one of the older kids noticed and swam next to me and guided me to the edge and helped me out. My daughter, of course, was extremely upset because she felt she had “caused” the incident…nothing could be further from the truth…it was my own “ego” that encouraged me to do sommething I really didn’t want to do.
      I tell this story so that you will know that I truly understand how it only takes a second or two for someone to disappear under the water…parents do need to be vigilant!!!!

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      • Thank you for sharing your story, Vivian. That must have been a very scary and tough situation for you. I’m so glad help came quickly for you. Even if you are close to the side of the pool, it doesn’t matter, as the brain’s thinking capacity shuts down when anxiety takes over. And when one is underwater, disorientation can take place very quickly too. That young lad was sharp to notice and come to your aid.
        Your daughter sounds very sweet and sensitive.

        It all underlines our thinking, that things can happen very fast and without sound. Parents should know all these guidelines. You’ve done a great service…but it should be all over the net, especially now! Thanks again for a wonderful, informative post!

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        • Judy…thank you so much for your comments!  It was scary…and I was very grateful to the young boy who helped me so quickly.  And it brings home the lesson that we need to heed our inner voice…and, as you point out, spread the word to parents that they need to be within “touch”  range at ALL times when kids are in or near the water.   I’ll tell you what’s also really scary…and perhaps I will do a post about it…when parents exit a store and walk in the parking lot towards their car…I often see little ones walking/running ahead or behind.  Little children should be held by the hand or picked up and carried when walking amongst cars or where cars are traveling.  Many parents “trust” that drivers will see their children…and this is not the case sometimes, unfortunately!   

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