Drowning is one of the leading causes of death in the United
States. On average, 3,533 people die as a result of drowning each year, and
most of those deaths are children under the age of 4 who drown in backyard
swimming pools. The tragedy of these statistics is nearly all drowning deaths
are preventable. Parents need to be aware of their children’s swimming
capabilities as well as their knowledge of how to be safe around water.
To help parents determine if their children are
knowledgeable of basic water safety skills, the US Swim School Association has
created a basic safety guideline parents can use to evaluate their children at
the start and end of the summer pool season. USSSA also reminds parents that
enrolling their children in year-round swimming lessons is one of the first
defenses in drowning prevention. Even if children can complete the following
tasks, year-round lessons can help children maintain their swimming skills and
build strength.
Flip and Float. Any
time a child enters a body of water unexpectedly, he or she should know to
first reach the surface then flip onto his or her back and float until help
arrives.
READ MORE: Public Swimming Pools in the Hudson Valley
Find the Side. If
your child accidentally falls into a pool he or she should know how to swim to
the side, and either pull them self out of the water or move along the wall to
the stairs where they can safely exit.
Do a Clothes Test.
Children might be successful swimmers in their goggles and swimsuit but if you
have a backyard pool there could be a situation where your child falls into the
pool fully clothed. To help your children know how to react and judge their
skill level in a situation like this effectively, under your supervision, have them
jump into the pool with clothes on and swim to the side.
Throw, Don’t Go. When
asked what they would do if a friend or sibling is struggling in the water,
children should know to not enter the water. Instead, they should look for a
device that can reach into the water such as a pool noodle, a foam ring or even
a large stick the struggling person can grab and hold onto while being pulled
to safety.
Take a lap. If
you have a backyard pool it is a good idea to test your child at the end of the
summer to make sure your child can swim a full lap of the pool. This will
inform you if your child can swim far enough to reach the side or a step to
exit the pool no matter where he or she falls in.
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To find a USSSA
affiliated swim school near you, or for details on becoming a member of the
nation’s leading swim school organization visit: www.usswimschools.org.