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When the weather heats up, water activities
are a great way to cool down. While wading,
swimming and splashing can be fun for both
parents and kids, it’s important to keep safety
in mind when playing in and around the water.
According to Ernesto Hidalgo, preparedness program manager for the American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles, parents should always take an active role in their child’s safety. “Actively supervise your children, even if there is a lifeguard on duty,” says Hidalgo.
According to data culled by the American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles (the second largest Red Cross chapter in the nation), 90 percent of child drowning deaths in Los Angeles occur under adult supervision. “It only takes a second for a child to take a breath underwater and become a drowning victim,” says Hidalgo, who recommends that babies and toddlers remain within arm’s reach of mom and dad and that children are always within their parents’ sight when in the water.
Pool Time
While backyard pools are a convenient way to cool off, special care should be taken to make the area a safe one for young children. According to Hidalgo, pools should be surrounded by a fence—ideally, 5 feet in height—and the gate secured with a latch that is out of a child’s reach. “The gate should be locked when the pool is not supervised so that the area is secure,” says Hidalgo. Parents should also keep the pool area free of toys when not in use to discourage young children from wanting to enter the area to play. Additionally, Hidalgo advises kids to avoid slippery spots and to never swim alone.
Shore to Shore
When at the beach, lake or local watering hole, parents “want to select an area that has good water quality and where the conditions are maintained for safety,” says Hidalgo. Docks and rafts should be in good condition and there should be an emergency telephone available for use with the local emergency number posted clearly in sight. Hidalgo also warns swimmers to “avoid drainage ditches and arroyos because they are easy to get caught up in or to be hurt in.”
Slip and Slide
Water parks also warrant the same attention to safety. According to Hidalgo, visitors should read posted safety signs and listen carefully to lifeguard instructions. Additionally, kids should always slide face up and feet first to avoid injury and use life jackets if and where available. According to Hidalgo, personal flotation devices (PFDs) should be compliant with coast guard standards. Additionally, parents should make sure that the PFD is the proper size for their child’s age and weight. For infants and toddlers specifically, a PFD should feature a strap that goes between the child’s legs. (When used properly, the extra strap helps to secure the PFD so that the top of the life vest does not rise above a child’s nose and mouth.)
In addition, while flotation devices that aren’t coast guard approved—such as tubes and swimmies—are popular with kids, Hidalgo warns that they are not a reliable safety tool. “They can be used as teaching aids, but only when they are built into the curriculum and closely supervised and monitored,” says Hidalgo. “They are valuable in building the child’s confidence, but oftentimes they can give [children] a false sense of security.”
Summer School
Both kids and parents can learn how to stay safe in and around the water with classes geared toward safety and swimming skills. The Red Cross offers parent and child aquatic programs for children ages 6 months to 5 years old, and kids-only classes for children ages 6 and up. Parents can check with their local chapter to find out where classes are offered in their area (www.redcross.org). Additionally, Hidalgo recommends that parents take a general first aid class as well as CPR training to “make sure you are ready to respond to an emergency.” (Red Cross CPR certification is valid for one year. Red Cross first aid certification is valid for three years.)
—Jennifer Carofano
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