HEALTHY HABITS SAFETY Water Wise Top tips to stay swim safe this summer
“The best prevention is a secure barrier around a pool—that’s the only thing that can fully prevent a drown- ing,” she says. “Have a fence and make sure it’s closed. If your house is one of the four ‘barriers’ around the pool, install a sounding alarm on your door so you know when your kids are going in and out.” Lynn urges adults to designate a “water watcher” who’s in charge of supervising pool activities. “Adults need to be ready to take care of kids if something happens,” she says. “Be ready for an emergency, know CPR and only be on your phone if you need to call 911.” Lynn adds that baby pools, while seemingly innocuous, can also be a source for drowning. “When not in use, dump them,” she adds. “If there’s a water source, there’s no doubt a kid will find it! Keep all water sources under control.” Finally, she says, if an emergency occurs, get the child out of the water as quickly as possible, lay them on their back, give two rescue breaths and start CPR while waiting for emergency responders. “Often people are learning hands- only CPR, but that won’t help in a drowning situation,” she emphasizes. “You must give two rescue breaths to get air in the lungs.” A Day at the Beach What home pools lack—a lifeguard— is one of the biggest benefits of a day at the beach. Take advantage of their knowledge, Lynn says. “When it comes to beach safety, the most important thing is checking with the lifeguard about the ocean conditions—that’s what they’re there for,” she says. “I will always ask, how’s the water? Are there riptides? And they’ll point to the safest places to swim. Listen to them.”
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s the weather heats up, there’s nothing more refreshing than a dip in a cool pool. There are also few things quite as dangerous for small children as a pool left unattended by a vigilant adult. Sadly, drowning is a leading
According to the Red Cross, being water competent means being able to do the following
cause of death in children under age 5. Additionally, near-drowning events can lead to life-long health complications due to being submerged underwater for an extended period. “Kids are most likely to experience a drowning incident between the ages of 1 and 4—it is the leading cause of death in kids this age across the world, because at this age, kids cannot right themselves up in the water,” explains Lorrie Lynn, manager, Injury Prevention Programs, Center for Healthier Communities at Rady Children’s. “It is for these reasons that we encourage parents to make sure they and their children are water competent.” Pool Time Lynn, who is also the coordinator of Safe Kids San Diego and a program coordinator for Injury Free Coalition for Kids, says that despite San Diego being near the ocean, pools are the main area of concern for children. And when it comes to pools, the best way to reduce the risk of drowning is to limit access to the pool.
five steps: 1. Enter water
that’s over your head, then return to the surface. 2. Float or tread water for at least one minute. 3. Turn over and turn around in the water. 4. Swim at least 25 yards. 5. Exit the water.
Stay hydrated— despite being in water, the body needs to rehydrate Apply—and reapply—sunscreen Wear a hat to protect your face Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes Outfit small children in Coast Guard-approved life vests SUMMER SAFETY SNIPPETS
6 HEALTHY KIDS MAGAZINE SUMMER 2023
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