In Florida, drowning is one of the leading causes of death in children under five. Children on the spectrum are also at a higher risk of drowning. May is Water Safety Month - a great way to brush up on your water safety rules and tips, start swimming lessons, and teach your child how to stay safe during a fun water day.
This article is to give you tips and rules to keep your family safe this Summer, while participating in all the fun water activities West Volusia has to offer.
Tips and Rules to Teach Your Children
- Never go near water without an adult, and always have a swimming buddy. Ensure your child knows to have an adult available for supervision, and always ask an adult for help. Have a barrier, and teach them to use it correctly.
- Always wear a life jacket; they only work when you're in or near open water. U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets are the best support tools, so skip the arm floaties, puddle jumpers, and cute floats for the little ones. Physical touch is best for pools and smaller bodies of water, as floats like "puddle jumpers" help train muscle memory in swimming in a "drowning position".
- Learn how to swim and get comfortable in the water. It's never too late to start. Even if they aren't swimming independently by summertime, they will learn the basic survival skills. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children four years old and up learn to swim, but it's still beneficial for those younger than four to learn and get comfortable; many swim lessons start around two months old.
- Know how to get help, either by asking an adult nearby or by calling 911. Have a phone available nearby to help with timing and make things as quick as possible. Have children take a CPR course, especially those in middle school and older.
Tips and Rules for Parents and Caregivers
Designate a "water watcher" - an adult who will focus solely on the swimmers in and around the water. This adult should be in a good state of mind, with no distractions from phones, and be able to engage in deep conversations. They should also know how to swim. Remember that drowning can happen quickly and quietly.
- Have the proper water barriers set up, which physically block children from the pool. This includes child-proof locks on all doors, a pool fence with self-latching and self-closing gates, and pool and door alarms. Pool covers are only safe if they are professionally fitted for your pool; loose covers can pose a growing hazard and entrap a child in the water. Florida law requires barriers for home pools and above-ground pools to be in fenced yards. Keep ladders inside the pool or out of reach when the pool is not in use.
- Learn about boating, open water, and private pool laws.
- Check out our Daytona Beach Swim Lesson Guide to find a program that fits your needs.
- Dress your child in bright colors! Research shows that neon colors appear best in lakes and pools, while dark colors can get lost or mistaken for dirt or leaves at the bottom of the pool. They're also the best for finding your child in a busy splash pad, water park, or crowd.
- Learn CPR, and have a phone nearby any body of water.
Resources
National Drowning Prevention Alliance
Swim Angelfish Adaptive Aquatics Resource:
Volusia County Water Safety Door Alarms:
Contact Becky Puhl, becky@swimwithbecky.com, if you would like to become a member of the Volusia County Drowning Prevention Task Force or to be informed on what is happening within the Volusia or Water Smart Florida Task Force in the Northeast Florida region.
Fintastic Swim Academy Summer Camp
Sponsor this Article!
This Macaroni KID Article is open for sponsorship! Articles help families in the community by guiding them to find the local information they need to enrich their families' lives. Articles will be included in newsletters, accessible on our articles page, frequently shared among friends, posted on social media, and bookmarked so readers can keep the information readily available. Get your business seen by attaching your logo, business information, and website links to this guide! Read more here.
When visiting events and local businesses, be sure to let them know that Macaroni KID sent you. Don't forget to share the news with all your friends!
Macaroni KID is a free local calendar, weekly newsletter, and website dedicated to family-friendly events and information for the West Volusia area. We gather all the local family-friendly events and activities we can find and provide helpful information, including class listings, family-focused business details, book and product reviews, recipes, crafts, school and camp guides, and more. Subscribe to stay up-to-date on all the fun!
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
