Child Water Safety-Look Near Water First!
Child missing? Look near water first! Child Water Safety!
Child Water Safety…the
First Place You Should Look!
- Do you have a child’s inflatable pool,
- large inground or above ground pool,
- spa,
- bathtub filled with water,
- water feature in your yard?
With a missing child, your first place to look would be where the water is.
Child Water Safety and Our Daughter
My personal account of our two year old daughter and a pool: I was standing next to a neighbor’s pool as our daughter stepped into the pool. I stood watching as she sunk into the clear water. If you think your child will float, its not true. I jumped into the pool, grabbed her arm and pulled her back up. She only had a small amount of water swallowed and choked that up. If I had been in the neighbor’s house visiting, our daughter would have gone unnoticed. She was signed up for swimming lessons after that!
Tips for Child Water Safety
Always have a designated adult watching the water when children are present…no phones,no texting, no TV, no company to distract the adult!
- Teach your child water safety rules. No swimming alone, keep away from drains in pools and spas
- Do you have anti-entrapment drain covers and backup devices if you own a pool or spa?
- Supervise the child even if they know how to swim
- Keep a phone near for emergency use
- Do you know CPR? Learn CPR for children immediately if not!
- Keep gates to pools locked
- Do you know how to swim? Get lessons immediately!
Children Water Safety and Fences…Think Ahead!
If you don’t have your stationary pool behind a fence, get one up as soon as possible. What about water features in your yard…koi ponds, low pots that have bubbling water…keep your eyes on your child..your toddler. Before installing these yard features, keep your child or other’s children in mind when designing them. Often we don’t think of the issues involved with small children and water features. It’s an attraction…they love water. A child only sees a chance to play and have fun. Children can drown in inches of water.
Kids Who Survive a Near Drowning
Kids who survive a near-drowning may experience brain damage that can cause memory problems, learning disabilities or permanent loss of basic functions. In fact, after just four to six minutes underwater, the damage can be irreversible.
I’m so glad I was with her that day! Just a mere 2 years old, her life could have been altered forever with brain damage or she may never have grown up and given us our two beautiful grandchildren.
Have you experienced a child lost momentarily at home? Where was the first place you looked?
Great advice, Donna! I always look in the bathroom firs. Claire likes to play in the toilet sometimes.
Jenni Mullinix recently posted..5 Foods You Can Cross Off Your Grocery List Forever
Jenni,
You made me catch my breath! The toilet? I’ll bet you clean it often….look out when she learns to pull the lever.
DonnaPerugini recently posted..Missing Child? Look Near Water First!
Hi Donna,
This is outstanding advise! I never let my guard down and actually just told my 13 yr. old daughter she couldn’t go to a pool party because I didn’t feel my safety concerns/ questions were being addressed. I will always err on the side of caution.
Linda Kinsman recently posted..Plan A’s are Overrated
Linda,
Smart mom! I know the teens really don’t want adults around when having fun, but a lifeguard (adult) at a pool party is a must. Even if a child knows how to swim, if they’re pushed or slip…hit their heand and become unconscious…who is paying attention to give them help?
DonnaPerugini recently posted..Missing Child? Look Near Water First!
When we first were looking at houses I had a 20 month old. We bypassed many houses because I was too scared to have a pool and a toddler. Of course now I have 3 that are all much older and I want a pool. LOL Times change. Great advice and I had nightmares that my children drowned which is why I said no pool!
Dina recently posted..High dollar shoe carnival coupon! Get it before you go back to school shopping!
Dina,
Maybe it’s those very hot days you’re experiencing now.
I thought it would be great to have a pool when the kids were older..we put it off and then moved to Texas. We rented a home that had a pool and then no one wanted to go outside!!!
We’ve been invited to several pool parties this summer. We’ve declined. As a former lifeguard, I am just unnerved by large groups in tiny pools. That is the most dangerous time. Lots of hands to care for children, parents relax a bit, everyone thinks someone else is watching the kids, disaster happens. It’s so important to instil a love of and more importantly a respect for water! Oh – and like you mentioned, drowning is a very quiet event often without splashing or thrashing. Great tips to keep in mind! We’re heading out for vacation in just a few days!
Audra B recently posted..Did God Fail? {Salvation Stories Saturday}
Straight from a lifeguard’s mouth…’the most dangerous time’. I agree! When my daughter sunk to the bottom of the pool, it was completely quiet, no thrashing…and I watched her sink thinking she’d float. So much for that theory.
Glad you’re on top of it, Audra. Have a great vaycay!