Essential water safety tips

It’s officially summer and water safety is more important than ever as you spend your days at the beach or by the pool.

It's not only important to actively supervise young children in and around water, but to be conscious of potential safety hazards too. 

These 5 tips will make an enormous difference to your family’s water safety over the holiday period and could even save someone's life.
 

5 Essential water safety tips for you & your family

  

1. Make sure your kids know who's in charge

When it comes to water safety, always teach your kids that they are only allowed into the water when they have an adult with them and they have been told they can get in.

Then stay with them until they hop out.
 

2. Supervise your kids at all times

Young kids are curious so always stay with them when they're in and around water.

Accidents can happen in a heartbeat, so be active and constant in your supervision.

Keep your eyes and mind on the job, and be mindful of distractions such as phone calls and talking to others.

If necessary take turns with another adult to look after your kids, but make sure everyone is aware of whose responsibility it is at any given time.
 

3. Never leave your kids unattended

Never leave your kids unattended at the beach, in the pool or even in the bath. 

Young kids need an adult with them at all times around water, not an older brother or sister, as accidents can happen in such a small space of time.

It only takes as little as 5cm of water and as short as 60 seconds for kids to drown.
 

4. Remove all drowning hazards

It's not just the beach and pool that can be potential drowning hazards, be aware of any containers or ponds around your home that may collect or hold water too.

Make sure these things are either emptied, out of reach or inaccessible to young kids.

Be water safe and empty the paddling pool after every use as well.
 

5. Learn to swim

Become water confident yourself. You will not be able to rescue your kids if you don’t have adequate confidence and basic swimming skills.
The ability to perform CPR is also paramount and could be the difference between life and death, so maybe consider upskilling with a basic course. Some Swim Schools offer this as part of their swim programmes too.

More kids articles to enjoy:

• Summer's on the horizon - is your family water safe?
• Keeping kids safe around water
• Making the most of preschool swimming lessons

^{Source: This article was kindly written for us by YMCA Auckland.}