Water Safety for Children

The summer holidays are finally upon us. It’s been a long time coming and winter was cruel, which is why I believe we deserve an extra long break; kicking back by the sea or swimming pool. Sangria in hand, children frolicking in the pool, nothing could go wrong, could it? With 40% of children in the UK not being able to swim, there is a fairly high chance it could. Teaching children to swim is not only an invaluable life lesson; it may well save their lives one day. It is advised that children over the age of four should know, if not be learning, how to swim.

That being said, there are some very simple precautions you can take to make your child’s safety the utmost priority when around water. Center Parcs, experts in family breaks, are experienced in minimising the risks of swimming and would like to pass some of this knowledge over to you.

Large bodies of water take many forms, but none are as dangerous, for children and adults alike, as the sea. If you plan to relax by the seaside this summer it is well worth taking all the help you can get. Lifeguards monitor 200 of Britain’s most popular coastal destinations; don’t hesitate to ask for their assistance. They will know the state of the sea on any given day and will be able to advise on any tides or currents that could affect the safety of you or your child. It is also well worth casting an eye over the beach safety flags.

Personal swimming pools can be a safety nightmare for parents all year round. Even in the winter months they present a risk, children playing on the protective covering can fall through and become trapped under the sheet. The rules on this one are similar to the rules on playing on ice. Prevention is the best protection. Teaching children from a young age the risks of water, whether open, covered in plastic or ice is always best. For those that just don’t want to learn it is a sound idea to encircle the pool in a fence, making sure the latch on the gate is out of reach and that your little ones can’t fit through any gaps.

In preventing accidents it is well worth considering what causes the accidents in the first place. Often children sneaking off for a solitary swim can find themselves in danger with no one to call on for help. So it is a good idea to instill in your children the positives of a buddy system. This gives you a peace of mind, knowing that if your child does dash off with a friend for a swim at least there are two of them. If something goes wrong there is someone: a) to help or b) to run for assistance.

Infants are very susceptible to changes in temperature; the effects can be worsened when in water. As a rule of thumb water below 20°C is uncomfortable for even the most robust of adults. The chances of your infant catching hypothermia when in water are heightened, as such it is important to keep an eye on them and if they start shivering or their lips start to turn blue then remove them from the water and wrap them in a towel. Generally speaking temperatures of between 28°C and 30°C are the most comfortable for people of all ages to swim in. A good course of action is to always test the water temperature first, before letting children play in it. Using the elbow or wrist you get a good idea of a comfortable temperature for a child.

Whilst all of these are of great importance there is one golden rule that should be followed at all times, that is supervision. I cannot stress this enough, supervising a child is the easiest way to ensure their safety and to put your mind at rest. Swimming should be an enjoyable event for children and great exercise at that. Always be mindful of your child when in water and be careful not to get distracted; danger can rear its ugly head in seconds. So remember; supervise, supervise, supervise.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post