Keeping Your Child Safe Around Water

About this topic

Knowing how to stop accidents before they happen is very important. The best way to do this is to watch your child at all times. You also need to take other steps to make sure your child is safe from harm. Water safety is especially important. A drowning accident can happen in as little as 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water. It can happen in pools, hot tubs, bathtubs, lakes, rivers, and even buckets of water. ‚

General

Bathtub and Bathroom Safety ‚

Never leave a child or baby alone in the tub, even for a few seconds. Always take your baby with you if you need to leave the area.
Bath rings and baby baths do not keep a baby from drowning. They can easily tip or slip down into the water.
Childproof your home. Use locking tools on toilets. Use doorknob safety covers.
Always empty the bathtub when you are done using it.

Pool and Water Safety ‚

Always have an adult who is in charge of watching the child who is swimming. The adult should not be busy on the phone, playing cards, or doing other distracting activities.
Never leave children alone while at pools, lakes, or oceans. Always watch them even if there is a lifeguard on duty.
Put up a fence around your pool. Do not use your house as one of the sides of the fence. Make sure your fence has a self-closing gate and a lock that is out of reach of children. The fence should be at least 4 feet high (1.2 meters) and not easy to climb.
Take all toys out of the pool and pool area when you are done swimming. This may keep a child from trying to reach a toy and falling in.
Only use air-filled toys or flotation devices such as rafts or water wings for children who can swim. Use an approved life jacket for all children who cannot swim.
If you have an above ground pool, remove the ladder each time you are finished swimming.
Always drain small wading pools when you are done with them.
Consider having a pool alarm or pool cover for when your pool is not in use.

Beach, Lake, River, and Boating Safety ‚

Never leave children alone near any water, including buckets and puddles. Drowning can happen even in a very small amount of water.
Do not let kids near any drains or pipes where they could become trapped. Use proper drain covers.
Always use life jackets when boating or near a body of water.
Never have beer, wine, and mixed drinks (alcohol) or drugs when driving a boat. Take a boating safety class.
If you are at a beach, swim safely. Swim in areas where lifeguards are on duty.
If a rip current in the ocean pulls you in, swim sideways or parallel to the shore to get out of the current. Once out of the current, swim at an angle to the shore.
Do not dive into shallow water or rocky areas.
Do not drive on flooded streets.

Be Ready for Emergencies ‚

If your child is missing, check the pool immediately.
Make sure that your pool has life rings and reaching poles in case of an emergency.
Learn CPR in case an accident happens. Take a water safety class.
Take swimming lessons if you do not know how to swim. Start your children in swimming lessons at an early age, usually by age 4.
Always know about weather conditions and rip current warnings when swimming or boating.
Never swim alone. Use the buddy system.
If you have seizures, do not be in or around water alone.

Will there be any other care needed?

Learn CPR.
Prepare a first aid kit.
Put emergency phone numbers in your phone and posted in your home.

Where can I learn more?

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ‚
http://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/water-safety/waterinjuries-factsheet.html ‚
KidsHealth ‚
http://kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/home/safety_drowning.html# ‚
Safe Kids USA ‚
http://www.safekids.org/our-work/research/fact-sheets/drowning-prevention-fact-sheet.html ‚

Last Reviewed Date

2015-08-14 ‚

List_set bdysylist

Pediatric
Safety

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer

This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care provider 's advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚

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