Many of us will head toward water to enjoy the warm weather. Whether it’s a paddling pool in the back garden, a river, a lake or the ocean, below are some tips to make sure that your child is safe near water.
- Make sure that an adult supervises children in or around water at all times. Even a shallow bath poses a risk to young children, so keep a constant watch.
- Make sure that baths and paddling pools are completely emptied immediately after use. Turn pools upside down so that rain water does not accumulate in them.
- Get Swimming Lessons—this is an important life skill so try your best to make sure that your child learns to be a competent swimmer
- Make sure you talk to your child about water safety and the often unseen dangers such as river currents
- Make sure that you and your child follow all safety signs and only swim in allowed areas. This will not only keep you safe but also teach your child a healthy respect for water
- Don’t overestimate your child’s swimming ability—make sure they have appropriate aids such as arm bands or life jackets and make sure they don’t swim out of their depth.
