The subject of drowning prevention is a critical safety lesson for any parent. Young children are at the highest risk of accidental drowning fatalities, so every parent should prioritize drowning prevention. One essential step is scheduling professional swimming lessons from an experienced swim school like Aqua Baby Survival Swim School in Tucson.
Get the Facts on Child Drowning
Did you know that drowning is the leading cause of accidental death among children ages 1-5 in the United States? According to research conducted by Safe Kids Worldwide, almost 800 children die of drowning annually in the U.S., and more than half of those kids are under age 5. Many of these deaths are preventable with improved parent education, along with professional swim lessons from an experienced instructor.
There are many misconceptions about child drowning that all parents should know. By getting the facts, you’ll know how to better prevent serious accidents that could lead to fatalities.
- Drowning occurs in less than 1 minute. Parents often underestimate how quickly danger can arise in the water. Even young children who know how to swim should be closely monitored the entire time they’re in or near the water. This is true whether you’re at a community pool, a water park, the beach, or your own backyard pool.
- Children ages 1-4 are more likely to drown in a pool. Drowning accidents tend to take place close to home for young children. Backyard and community pools are the highest-risk drowning areas for kids from ages 1-4.
- Drowning is a silent danger. In movies and on TV, drowning is often accompanied by lots of splashing, yelling, and commotion. In reality, drowning is often swift and silent. That’s why it’s so essential to keep active eyes on the pool anytime children can get in the water.
Drowning Prevention Begins with Swim Lessons in Early Childhood
Swim lessons are one tool you can rely on to reduce your child’s drowning risk. However, swim lessons can vary in the skills they offer for your child. When you’re vetting different swimming lessons for your infant or toddler, look first for appropriate accreditation in your instructor. For example, at Aqua Baby Survival Swim School, our instructor Nicole is a Certified Infant Aquatics® Specialist and has adult, infant, and child CPR certification.
In addition to survival swim lessons, there are several other layers of drowning prevention that all parents should be aware of. The following 6 components are essential for a multi-faceted, effective approach to drowning prevention.
- Survival swim lessons to build skills and confidence in your child.
- Self-closing and locking pool gate to keep the pool area off limits when it’s not time to swim.
- An alarm system for your patio door or pool gate so you know if your child has entered the pool area without supervision.
- Constant, engaged adult supervision while swimming.
- CPR training specifically for children.
- Use of life jackets in any open body of water—children are more likely to wear theirs if they see parents and other adults doing the same!
Backyard Pool Safety Should Always Be a Priority
Even with the right preparation and training in swimming classes, you’ll want to promote safety at home with backyard pool rules and established barriers limiting pool access. Here are some further resources to help you keep your child safe around your backyard pool and better understand the fundamentals of swim lessons.