According to the World Health Organization, drowning is one of the leading causes of death in the world. In most countries, it ranks among the top three causes of death from unintentional injury, with the rates highest among children under the age of five. A small child can drown in a few centimetres of water at the bottom of a bucket, in the bath, or in a small pond, and the worst part is, you won’t hear them drowning.
Water to most children, means fun, play, and adventure but it is vital for them and for yourself to learn and understand water safety. It is essential for families to take extra steps for safety.
Here are four essential pool-side rule that you should follow:
Never let your child swim alone!
Never leave your child unsupervised just because they know how to swim. Focused supervision is a very important water safety habit. Most kids who drown are not expected to be swimming at the time of accident. Therefore, it is essential to limit access to a swimming pool during non-swimming time.
Be always alert when your child is in the water. Naturally, kids love to try tricks of all sorts when in the water which makes it more dangerous for them.
Learn to Swim
Learning how to swim reduces the risk of drowning by almost 90%! This important life skill equips one with survival skills and techniques to prevent exhaustion. An important technique to remember – float on your back so you can scream for help!
Swim Within Designated Areas
Before letting the kids jump in the water. It is important to be aware of the designated areas first and avoid ones where water is deeper than their abilities, especially in natural bodies of water where depth can be unpredictable along with other factors such as current and wildlife.
Learn CPR
Accidents are prone to happen and in case it does happen to you, knowing CPR will be literally lifesaving. Therefore, it is important to arm yourself and your kids with this technique.
Swimming is a fun activity for everyone, but we should always remember that it comes with potential risks. To guarantee a safe and enjoyable time for the whole family, it is imperative to know these basic water safety guidelines and survival skills.
At ProActiv Sports, we believe that water safety awareness is vital in every family. To help spread this knowledge we are organizing a free Water Safety and Survival Skills workshop for your child and a member of your family. Click here to learn more.
