THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS UPDATES WATER SAFETY GUIDELINES
For the first time ever, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) finds that small children ages one to four may benefit from taking formal swim lessons. In the past, the AAP has discouraged parents from enrolling children under four in lessons for fear that parents would fail to properly supervise a child who had formally learned some swimming skills. The AAP suggests that parents decide whether or not their young child is ready for formal lessons.
Even children with advanced swimming skills can have accidents in pools, lakes or other bodies of water. It is essential for parents to closely supervise children any time they are around water. The AAP recommends that adults learn CPR and that pool owners always install a four-sided fence around their pool. See my blog from earlier this week for information about the new federal pool safety requirements.
AAP's website offers the following additional water-safety advice for parents:
- Never leave small children alone in bathtubs, pools or any other open body of water. Even looking away for a moment could prove devastating.
- Do not put your child in inflatable arm bands, or any other air-filled floating device. Use life jackets instead. Air-filled devices can deflate.
- Always put children in life jackets when riding in a boat.
- Know the water's depth and check for any underwater hazards before allowing children to jump into the water.
- When swimming in open bodies of water, select sites monitored by lifeguards.
- Parents must inform teens about the increased risk of drowning when drinking alcohol.
