Layers of Protection for Drowning Prevention Week

This week is Drowning Prevention Week in Canada, so why not bring the same awareness over to the States this week? When it comes to drowning prevention, it’s absolutely necessary to have multiple layers of protection.

1. Supervision

Constant and active supervision is crucial to drowning prevention. This means having no distractions, such as texting or taking a phone call. Drowning is silent and often hard to notice if you are not completely focused on watching your kids. With a large group, such as at a pool party, one of the easiest way to ensure constant supervision over children in the pool is to designate a “water watcher.” This is an adult whose only job is to watch the kids swimming. Check out this Water Watcher Pledge from Pool Safely top learn more about the role of a water watcher.

2. Barriers

Safety fences should be placed around the pool to ensure kids cannot get into the pool without adult supervision. Fences should be at least four feet high (preferably five feet) with no more than a 4-inch gap between the ground and the bottom of the fence. This will prevent kids from climbing over or under the fence to the pool area. Fences should also be self-closing and self-latching with alarms to set when no one should be in the pool area.

3. Learn to Swim

Enrolling your family in swim lessons will not only help in drowning prevention, but will instill confidence in both yourself and your kids in the pool. Swimming is a life-saving skill that is also fun! With learning to swim comes confidence and safety at water parks, while kayaking, surfing, canoeing and much more! Sunsational Swim School is dedicated to swim safety and drowning prevention. Our one-on-one private, at-home lessons ensure your family learns to swim at their own pace, in the comfort of your own home, in just weeks, not years!

4. Correct Response During an Emergency

The last line of defense in drowning prevention is knowing what to do in the case of an emergency. Learning CPR, first aid and other basic water rescue skills can be the difference between life and death. If someone is pulled from the water and no longer breathing chances of surviving drop by 10 percent every 60 seconds without CPR or defibrillation. CPR certification classes are available through many hospitals, community centers or the American Red Cross and usually cost under $30. This week should be a reminder that layers of protection are vital to ensuring drowning prevention. So make sure your kids and new swimmers are under supervision at the pool, there are barriers around your home pool, your family learns how to swim and you know how to respond in an emergency.