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Published: June, 2009

Swim safety, continued ...

Make sure to keep gates closed and locked when not in use. Also update your pool gates and barriers to maintain high levels of safety. Have rescue equipment available near your pool, just in case. It only takes two seconds for a child to drown, and having that equipment will help you to respond immediately.
   
Installing a pool alarm system can also help to prevent tragedies. Pool alarms can help to warn a parent if a child slips and falls into the water. From gate alarms to wave sensors, a variety of different monitors can be employed, depending on your budget and household needs.
   
The next important step to ensure safe water fun this summer is to include your child in safety lessons. Teach the basics by signing her up for swim lessons. While keeping in mind that supervision is still vital, giving your child essential life skills will benefit her for years to come.
   
“Learning to swim not only empowers kids, it gives them the necessary skills to preserve their own lives while in the water,” says Johnson.
   
Todd Sousa, director of Swim Venture, agrees.
   
“Children are not drowning because they don’t know how to swim; it is because they do not know how to hold their breath,” he says. Simply teaching your infant to hold her breath underwater can be lifesaving.
   
“All it takes is a tablespoon of water for a child to drown,” adds Sousa.
   
The best thing for parents to do, he says, is to get the facts; talk to a professional at a certified swim program to gather more information.
   
“Don’t procrastinate on this one,” Sousa warns. “It is the biggest danger your child will face.”