“This post was sponsored by SwimWays as part of an Ambassador Program for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.”
Now that school is out and summer is finally here, the temperature is beginning to dramatically rise outdoors. Which means it’s time to break out the swimsuits and hit the pool. Because who doesn’t love a refreshing swim on a scorching day in the sun? I know my family does.
But before we start packing our beach bags full of sunscreen and towels, we need to ensure that our children will be safe at the pool. Unfortunately, nearly 1,000 children die each year by drowning. Many of them happening in home swimming pools. And since children ages, 1-4 are at the highest risk of drowning, we need to take all of the necessary precautions.
(THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS HOWEVER, I WILL NEVER RECOMMEND ANYTHING THAT I DO NOT BELIEVE IN OR USE MYSELF. YOU CAN READ MORE ABOUT MY DISCLOSURE POLICY HERE)
1. SAFETY FLOAT
Safety floats and life jackets have continued to be a crucial lifesaver for children when they are swimming in the water. Especially for babies and children who have not yet learned how to swim unaided.
That’s why I have always made the decision to use safety floats (along with adult supervision) for both of my children to ensure they are protected while in the water. My 19-month-old toddler, in particular, cannot swim and is very afraid of the water so I had to find a float that would allow him to be in the pool but also help him feel safe and secure.
And out of all the baby/toddler floats available on the market today, I turned to the SwimWays Baby Spring Float. With its easy to use design, two position sun canopy with UPF 50+, and its compact storage bag for transportation it has always been my go-to baby float. I also love how the SwimWays Baby Float can be found and purchased in-store and online at Target.
SwimWays is also a huge leader for educating families on the importance of water safety.
With all of these amazing features, my toddler had an exciting and safe experience in our friend’s backyard pool. Although he was extremely nervous about being in the water at first, he did come around and enjoy himself in the refreshing pool. And as a notably overprotective helicopter mom, I was very happy with how the SwimWays Baby Float was able to support him in the water while also keeping him shaded from the hot sun.
2. Establish Rules
Before going to any pool be sure to always, always, always list and establish the rules and guidelines to follow when at the pool. Such as, “no running” and “no jumping off the sides of the pool. Simple rules like these can protect your kids from potentially dangerous slips, falls, and injuries that could have extreme consequences.
Also, try to section off certain areas of the pool by age. Such as only allowing children 10 and under to be in the shallow end or whatever age works best for you.
3. BUILD A FENCE
If you have a pool at your home, please invest in a fence to go around it. And also do NOT forget to purchase a lock to keep the fence gate closed and locked when you are not there. Small children have been known to wander outside when parents are asleep or otherwise distracted, fall into backyard pools and drown.
A simple safety fence and gate lock could potentially save a child’s life.
4. ADULT SUPERVISION
This tip may sound very obvious and silly but you would not believe how many parents allow their small children to go swimming while under the “supervision” of an older sibling or a friend. This is not adult supervision.
All children need to be supervised by an adult in the water, no matter what age they are or how skilled they are at swimming. It is also highly recommended to keep children ages 4 and under within arms reach of YOU while in the water (even if they are using a safety float). This is also called “touch supervision.”
5. SWIMMING LESSONS
Swimming lessons could likely save your child’s life in the water. And some providers even offer swimming lessons for babies as young as 6 weeks old and up. Teaching your child to swim can be a very personal decision to make at the right age.
Be sure to talk with your child about the importance of water safety and what it means. Also, ensure that your entire family is educated and prepared with swimming lessons when making plans to visit a pool.
6. LEARN CPR
CPR or cardiopulmonary resuscitation is an emergency procedure that everyone should learn before taking children swimming. I myself, have personally seen CPR performed on a child who was found face down in the water and it saved her life.
And CPR classes are often taught at local hospitals and other healthcare buildings. Check your local hospital for listings for CPR classes for your family to find out more.
7. CLEAN UP
Finally, the last tip that I have for water safety is to always clean up when you are done. And that means to clean all of the toys and floats out of the pool after you are done swimming.
What, why? What if I want to go back later?
Leaving toys in the pool can catch a small child’s eye and cause them to wander in the pool after it whether they can swim or not. By keeping all toys and floats out of the pool when not in use you reduce the risk.
Always Swim Safely
Being prepared and educated around water can make a huge difference in swimming safety. Having a set of rules posted and planning ahead can reduce any chances of injury or even potential drowning at the pool. So always keep water safety in mind and have fun this summer.
*DO YOU OWN A POOL? IF SO DO YOU HAVE RULES AND SAFETY GUIDELINES SET? TELL ME IN THE COMMENTS. I ALWAYS LOVE TO HEAR FROM MY READERS!
