MADERA, Calif. – Experts at Valley Children’s are emphasizing the need for families to take proactive steps to keep children safe around pools, lakes, rivers and other bodies of water.
The push for awareness comes ahead of Memorial Day weekend, when water activities typically provide a popular escape from warming temperatures.
“Water can be incredibly fun for families, but it also demands our full attention,” said Kristina Pasma, injury prevention coordinator at Valley Children’s. “Most people expect to hear splashing or cries for help, but drowning is often completely silent.”
Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Pasma said the keys to water safety can be summarized with A-B-C:
Active supervision
Adults should remain alert and distraction-free, even when lifeguards are present. Put cell phones away, stay within arm’s reach of young children and assign a designated “child watcher” to avoid gaps in supervision. If everyone thinks the other person is watching, then no one is.
Barriers
Install and maintain proper four-sided fencing around pools and hot tubs with self-closing, self-latching gates. Make sure kids swim at a depth safe for them – no deeper than the belly button for young children and non-swimmers.
Children who cannot swim should always wear correctly fitting U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets around water. The type of USGC life jacket must be suitable for the body of water in use. Inflatable toys, arm floaties, pool noodles, kickboards and other inflatable items are not safety devices and can create a false sense of security.
Classes
Enroll children in swimming lessons and encourage the whole family to learn to swim together. Adults should also be trained in CPR to respond quickly in an emergency.
“Most water emergencies are preventable, but the ABCs are a proven way to reduce overall risk,” said Pasma. “When families put these steps into practice, they’re taking meaningful action to keep children safe.”
Experts also remind families to check water conditions before entering lakes or rivers, stay mindful of strong currents and ensure that inexperienced swimmers remain in shallow, designated swimming areas. Even confident swimmers can tire quickly in open water, making adult supervision and life jackets essential.
For more information about water safety, visit ValleyChildrens.org/watersafety.
