The importance of water safety and learning to swim at a young age

As a parent, one of your top priorities is keeping your child safe. You teach them to look both ways before crossing the street and to never talk to strangers. But have you taught them how to be safe around water? According to the CDC, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death for children ages 1-14 years old.

Sadly, many parents don’t realize the importance of teaching their children to swim and how to be safe around water. They think that because they don’t live near a body of water, their child doesn’t need to learn. Or, they believe that if they are constantly supervising their child, there is no need. But what if there was an accident and you weren’t able to reach your child in time? Would they know what to do? Learning water safety skills at a young age could one day save your child’s life.

There are many dangers associated with water that children need to be aware of. Even if you don’t live near a large body of water, there are still dangers in your own backyard. Children can drown in as little as two inches of water, so it is essential that they know how to stay safe around any type of water - pools, lakes, rivers, oceans, bathtubs - anywhere!

There are several things you can do as a parent to help ensure your child’s safety around water:

• Enroll them in swimming lessons – this is the #1 way to prevent drownings.

• Make sure there is always an adult present whenever your child is around any type of water - even if there is a lifeguard on duty.

• Teach them survival swimming skills – even if they have had swimming lessons, this could one day save their life.

• Teach them about Rip Currents – these can quickly drag even the strongest swimmers out to sea. Show them what Rip Currents look like and how to identify them. Teach them never to swim alone and always stay close to shore when possible.

• Check the depth before diving – diving into shallow water can cause serious spinal cord injuries. inspect any body of water before allowing your child to enter it. If you are unsure about the depth, don’t let them go in.

The bottom line is that parents need to take an active role in teaching their children about water safety from a young age. It is essential that they know how to be safe around any type of water - pools, lakes, rivers, oceans - anywhere! Enrolling your child in swimming lessons is the best way to prevent drowning but there are other things you can do as well. The most important thing is that you make sure there is always an adult present whenever your child is around any type of water - even if there is a lifeguard on duty! Teaching your child these simple safety tips could one day save their life.