Water safety
Swimming is FUN. It is one of my favorite things about summertime.
But I think many parents significantly underestimate the dangers of bodies of water.
So I want to walk through some of my top tips to keep your kids safe this summer.
TW: this post discusses drowning injuries.
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My posts are generally designed to be reassuring rather than anxiety-provoking, and I apologize that this one is less so. But this post may save a life and so it is worth discussing frankly and honestly.
If you’re worried about dry drowning, check out this post.
The Swiss cheese model
The best way to decrease the risk of something bad happening is to have multiple layers of safety. If one fails, this means there is a safety net of others to help prevent (or minimize) disaster. Called the “swiss cheese” model (for obvious reasons!), this model of risk mitigation that has long been used in healthcare, the aviation industry, emergency management, and even in military defense.
And it is the best way to think about water safety for your children.
The good news? Drowning is still a low risk event (which is why it is hard to study in any type of controlled way).
The bad news? Drowning is the leading cause of death in children aged 1-4 years in the US, and the second leading cause of accidental death in older children. The risk is low… but in comparison with other risks our children face, it remains significant.
The stats
According to the CDC, every year there are an estimated 11 drowning deaths per DAY in children & 22 non-fatal drowning incidents (see my dry drowning post to understand the difference). What most parents don’t realize is that ANY body of water can be risky - including fountains, creeks, pools, lakes - and also water buckets and bathtubs. In fact, for infants under 12 months, two thirds of drowning deaths occur in bathtubs.
Drowning does NOT look like the movies. Thrashing, yelling for help, making noise are not typical. Instead, drowning is usually silent — and it can happen within seconds. In the time it takes to step out from the bathroom to get the towel when your child is in the tub.
So how do we prevent drowning?
Using multiple layers of safety.
Here are 7 of my top tips.
Put down your phone. The text can wait. The TikTok can wait. If your child is in or near water, they need an adult watching them 100% of the time. This is true regardless of
whether there is a lifeguard present
whether your child has had swimming lessons/knows how to swim
whether they’re wearing flotation devices
whether other adults are around (unless one has been designated as a “water watcher” - see below).
Arms Reach: Especially for younger children, stay within arms reach at all times. This means that you can reach out to touch them any time they are in (or ideally even near) water. Parents have a tendency to assume that putting their child in a puddle jumper or other floatation device means they are protected against drowning, but we don’t really have any evidence that this is true.
Be extra vigilant during the time periods when no one is swimming. It is very easy for a curious child to slip out while parents are making dinner, putting away groceries, showering. Make sure there is a foolproof way to prevent your child from getting to the pool, either by using door covers, locks, or some of the other measures listed below.
The Pediatrician Mom Tip: If you notice your child is missing, the pool or any nearby body of water should be the first place you look.
Use a “Water Watcher” system. Intentionally set up specific shifts for specific adults who have dedicated responsibility for watching the kids. These can be 10-15 minutes but the adult must be sober and alert. If there are many kids, pick TWO adults.
Swimming lessons. It is important for everyone above age 1y to learn to swim. The AAP recommends starting swimming lessons after 12 months, and having had swim lessons reduces the risk of drowning.
I get asked about ISR a lot in this context, and I understand why the idea is appealing. There is no evidence that swimming lessons before the age of 12 months can make a difference in drowning outcomes (although the internet is full of anecdotes), and the truth is that for infants under 12 months, most drownings occur in bathtubs. Could ISR help? Maybe.
CPR. Really, please go get trained. Effective, timely CPR (even just a few seconds earlier) can save a life. Many hospitals and other organizations have classes.
Coast-guard approved life jackets. If your child is in or on a boat, or near a river, it is very tempting to skip the life jackets, especially because so many children complain about them. But children are unpredictable around water. Think of your life jacket like a seat belt: put it on every single time. Always make sure to pick jackets that are officially Coast Guard Approved.
If you have a pool…
Many households have pools, and there are times I desperately wish we were on the list. It wasn’t the right choice for us, but if it were, there are very specific safety criteria that we would ensure were in place.
As a reminder, for homes that don’t have a pool but have fountains or koi ponds or anything else of the sort, these should ideally have the same measures!
Four sided fence with a minimum height of 4 feet: Many homes have a three-sided fence around their pool separating it from the neighbors, but no actual wall or fence separating it from the house itself. I know they’re not pretty… but this is essential.
Gates: All gates should be self-latching, with latch mechanisms that are out of reach of children. Keep everything locked and double check after pool cleaners or gardeners leave.
Pool covers: Pick covers that cover the entire pool, require some type of mechanism (ideally childproof) to remove, and support the weight of multiple children.
Pool drains: The suction on these can be intense, and it is easy for hair or swimsuit straps to get caught. Make sure all pool drains and cleaning systems have safety drain covers.
Pool alarms: There are now many sophisticated products available that alert you if the pool perimeter is breached, as well as others that can alert you if there is motion in the water. Remember, multiple layers of safety.
The Pediatrician Mom Tip: Even without a pool, our house has an alarm system that is set up to announce out loud any time a window or door is opened. This ensures that if a toddler tries to sneak out, the supervising adult is aware immediately. Kids are fast!
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It may not seem that way after this Debbie Downer post, but summertime is my absolute favorite time of the year and I LOVE being at the pool. But I also hear stories, every single year, about children who drowned and my goal as ever is to make sure every child is safe.
Hopefully this post gives you some actionable steps to make sure that the summer is filled only with the best memories.
