Top Tips for Water Safety & Swimming with Kids for Summer
Homeschools out for summer!
(Pass Momma a drink 🍹)
Whether you spend your summers swimming at the swimming pool, lake or beach, SUPing or fishing - being up to date on water safety when you have kids is so important!
I hope that you and your family had great drive-by graduations this past week. Now that school’s out, if you plan to be around water this summer, I want to remind you about these important safety reminders:
Never leave a child unattended in/near/around water.
When swimming, always assign a responsible water watcher.
Keep pools and spas covered and gated when not in use.
Drain buckets, kiddie pools, and bathtubs when not in use.
Wear a lifejacket when boating or around natural bodies of water.
What to do if a Child Falls into a Pool
Yell for help and check to see that you can safely help the child.
Get the child out of the pool and onto the pool deck.
Check for consciousness by tapping on them and shout, “Are you okay?”
If someone is with you, have them immediately call 9-1-1. If the child isn’t breathing normally, begin CPR and continue until emergency help has arrived.
If you are alone and the child isn’t breathing normally, begin CPR and call 9-1-1 after one minute. After the call, return to the child and continue CPR until emergency help has arrived.
Travel Tips
Before renting a home or condo for a vacation, ask if there are safety features or a gate surrounding the swimming pool area, prior to booking.
Discuss the types of water your child will be swimming in, whether it is a lake, river, ocean, pool, etc.
When on vacation, remember that your child is swimming in unfamiliar waters that may be colder, deeper, or darker than what they experience in swimming lessons.
Always wear a life jacket when rafting or boating.
At Home
Double check all restrooms
Never leave a child unattended in the bathtub for even a moment.
Make a little card or flag that says ‘I’m the lifeguard’ and whomever is the responsible adult by the pool at the time holds it so a) the kids know who to ask for help and b) the adults stay alert and focussed and not scrolling IG!
All wading pools and buckets in the yard should be drained immediately after use.
Make sure that all pools, hot tubs, and ponds have safety fences, covers, or nets around or on them.
Reminders
All parents and caretakers should have an up-to-date CPR certification.
Always apply sunscreen 30 minutes before outdoor activities and reapply every hour.
Sun Protection Tips
Be in the shade as often as possible.
Use an umbrella or wide brim hat to protect faces, ears, and necks.
Minimize direct sunlight between 10 am-4 pm; scheduling outdoor activities around those times.
Wear swim attire with UPF 50 or more.
Apply a minimum of SPF 15, half an hour before swimming.
Reapply sunscreen every 1-2 hours and after swimming.
Wear proper UV protectant sunglasses
You can check out my other posts
on water safety here:
If you have any questions about water safety with your kids this summer, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me!
Yours in safe swimming…
Love, Lynn
These tips were taken from La Petite Baleen where my kids go to swim!
