When diving into summer fun, the last thing a parent wants to worry about is a water disaster. However, with drowning as the leading cause of accidental deaths for children age 5 and under, the danger is too great to be ignored. Though the risk is
always present, parents can plan ahead to ensure their child’s safety.
“You don’t just flip a switch,” says Johnny Johnson, president of the Swim for Life Foundation. “There is always risk when you’re around water. We can reduce that risk, but we can never get rid of it.”
Water safety is essential for young children in or near a spa, pool or bathtub. Studies have shown that 75 percent of preschoolers who drown have been out of sight for five minutes or less, according to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Though there is no one solution, parents can take a number of important steps to stay safe this summer.
The first step is to recognize water risks and create a safety net around them. In Southern California, backyard pools are
the No. 1 water risk for kids, according to Johnson. Installing pool gates and pool covers are a great way to keep your children away from pools of water.
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