Part 5 of our educational series with Karen Baildon
What can you do to ensure your children are as safe as possible around any body of water?
The first thing supervision is key – you need to have a visual at all times.
Young children or beginner swimmers need to be at arm’s reach. That also means at bath or shower time. Little ones can drown in an inch of water.
Mobile phones are the biggest distraction and are dangerous for parents to be on while they’re around any body of water.
Make sure your children hold really strong drowning prevention skills. Swimming lessons should be a priority, at the very least until they can float on their back, until they can tread water, and until they can jump in and get back to the side.
Don’t prop or ever leave open your pool gate. You should be doing a yearly check to make sure your pool fences and pool gates are compliant. Move furniture that could be dragged and climbed over into a pool.
Don’t leave toys in your pool. We all know that children are very determined when they want something. Don’t ever leave anything in your pool that kids may want to get to.
Don’t mix alcohol and water. Always make sure there is an adult who is sober.
Make sure you know CPR. It’s a two hour course that we know saves lives.
The biggest mistake that you can make is thinking that drowning won’t happen to your family.
