Published on July 08, 2021
In the middle of this summer season, we know a lot of families will be looking for ways to cool but it's important to remember these essential tips to ensure everyone's safety near the water. Adult supervision: Never leave you children alone near water! This means that the supervising adult must be attentive and sober. Distractions such as social media and phone calls can wait. The mere presence of an adult in the area is not enough. If you need to leave the area or divert your attention, take your child with you. Barriers: Barriers should be considered as a backup to adult supervision, never a replacement! Pool fences, self-closing doors with child proof handles, and alarms are examples of ways to make it difficult for a child to get access to the pool area. However, swimming pools are not the only source of water danger in a home. Bathtubs and buckets of water should be drained immediately, and toilets can be secured with simple locking devices available at local retailers. Classes: Find age-appropriate swim lessons. While this should never be thought of as “drown proofing” for children, providing your child with the ability to assist with their own safety is a great idea. CPR instruction is also something that should be considered. You need to be prepared for the worst case scenario. For more information, please visitMFMD water safety page.