Swim Safety

Summer is right around the corner. Although the temperature here in Florida can allow for swimming almost year round, many kids will be swimming more often as the weather gets warmer. According the CDC, unintentional drowning is the cause of death for more than 3,500 people annually. This number does not include boating related drownings. This is about 10 people per day. One in five of these are children aged 14 and younger.

Some risk factors can include:

1. The inability to swim
2. Pools which are not properly contained by fencing on all four sides
3. Medical problems
4. Lack of close supervision
5. Improper or lack of use of PFD’s (Personal Floatation Devices)

 
While learning how to swim will not address all of these risk factors, it will give your child a better chance if for some reason they were alone near a pool, or on a boat without a PFD. Luckily we have many resources here to help them learn how to swim. Children can begin taking lessons as young as six months old. Here is a great list of different area swimming lessons. A few of these offer private lessons, as well as lessons in your own home.
If you own a pool, the best thing you can do is make sure it is locked securely. An added security measure can include an alarm for moving water. This way if your child was to fall into the pool unsupervised, you could be alerted when they fall in. Also keep the pools surroundings free from toys and furniture so no one trips and falls in.

 
Remember, seconds count. CPR has been proven to save lives, and it also improves the outcomes in drowning victims. The earlier CPR is started, the greater the chance of a better outcome. Find a Red Cross CPR class near you here.