Prevent a tragedy! Keep your child safe around pools and water
Dear Patient,
For most kids, there’s no greater pleasure than playing in water! It’s a great way to get some fun physical activity, enjoy the outdoors, and cool off when the weather’s hot.
As a parent, it’s important to make sure your child is always safe in and near pools and other bodies of water. Being in or near water can become dangerous quickly if a child isn’t closely supervised or if other safety measures aren’t in place. Drowning can happen quickly and silently.
Did you know?
According to Parachute Canada:
- Drowning is third-leading cause of injury-related death for children under age 14 in Canada, and almost half happen in backyard swimming pools.
- In 93% of drownings among children under age 5, the child wasn’t supervised or the person supervising them was distracted.
Keep your child safe with simple measures
- Always directly supervise your child around water, and stay within arm’s reach. Don’t count on siblings or other children to watch them, and avoid distractions like your phone.
- If your child is young or not a strong swimmer, make sure they use a properly fitted lifejacket (see link below for more information). Remember that water wings, bathing suits with flotation devices in them, and other swim toys are not safety devices.
- If your child is too young to wear a lifejacket, you should always hold them while in the water.
- If possible, enroll your child in swimming lessons. If you’re not a strong swimmer, consider taking lessons yourself. It’s also a great idea to take CPR training.
- Pools should always have a 4-sided, self-closing and self-latching fence to prevent kids from having dangerous access to them. If your home or cottage is close to open water, fence off a play area away from the water.
Learn more at these websites:
Have a fun and safe summer,
Your Family Doctor
