While your child may know how to swim, keep in mind that swim lessons are not a substitute for active supervision. Childhood drownings and near-drownings can happen in a matter of seconds. They typically occur when a child is left unattended or during a brief lapse in supervision.

Whether he’s in a backyard swimming pool, at a community center or in the ocean, always actively watch your child in and around water. Most drownings and near-drownings occur in residential swimming pools. A child should never be unsupervised in or near water, even shallow wading pools. There are many precautions parents and caregivers can take to keep children safe around water.

 

Top Tips

 

Water basics:

• Always supervise children in and around water. Never allow them to be near water alone.

• Teach young children how to swim.

 

At the pool:

• Install four-sided isolation fencing at least 5 feet high, equipped with self-closing and self-latching gates, around home swimming pools.

• Keep rescue equipment, a telephone and emergency numbers by the pool.
• Keep items that may entice children into the pool stowed away when not in use.
• Door and window alarms are battery powered. They are easy to install and simple to operate. An alarm sounds within seven seconds after a child opens it, and should continue to sound for at least 30 seconds until an adult resets the alarm

 

In open water:

• Always wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket around oceans, rivers or lakes or when participating in water sports.

For a free in home pool safety check, or more tips on pool safety go to www.floridasafepools.org