If you take your child for a swim in the sea or in the pool, it is important to take certain steps to ensure that they are safely in the water. Babies one year old or younger run the risk of drowning, as they are unable to push themselves up to the surface of the water. Read on to learn how to protect your baby when he is in the water.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Safe Near Water in Open Areas
Step 1. Never leave it unattended near water
A child can drown even in very shallow water, so there is no safe way to let him play alone in the water. Never leave it, even for a few seconds, when it is near the water. The risk of it slowly advancing and going under is too great.
- Turning your back or reading a book while playing, even if you're sitting a few feet away, can also lead to dangerous consequences. Keep an eye on your child at all times.
- In the presence of an area of water, whether it be a swimming pool, a lake or a puddle, it is best not to let the child go too far, even if you are looking at it. Keep it close to you.
- Always make sure the lifeguard is present in the bathing area, but don't rely on him to supervise your child. Lifeguards have too many people to watch out for, so your child will need to be monitored by you constantly.
Step 2. Have him wear the proper gear to keep him afloat
When you go for a swim, put the armrests on him so that he always keeps his head out of the water. Make sure you use a pair that is the right size for your child. Never use an adult life vest, dinghy or inflatable donut or other aquatic play tools to keep it afloat. They are too big and a baby could easily slide off.
Step 3. Cover and enclose the water areas
If you have a swimming pool, inflatable tub, or any other type of outdoor water container in your garden or terrace, make sure it is covered. The pools should be fenced with a gate that closes. Even a bucket of water can pose a huge risk to a 1 or 2 year old baby or toddler, so be conscientious.
Step 4. Make sure your pool has a drain safety system
When you drain water from a swimming pool or hot tub, suction is created. Therefore you should equip it with an anti-entrapment coating or install another type of safety system to prevent the baby from being sucked to the bottom. Get a pool technician to make sure you install it correctly.
Make sure other pools you frequent with your child, such as a friend's or relative's, have these safety precautions
Step 5. Teach him to swim
It is possible to take swimming lessons from 1 year. However, never assume that because he has learned to swim, he cannot drown. Constant control is absolutely essential at all ages, regardless of swimming skills.
Step 6. Practice safety procedures when on a boat
Everyone on board must wear flotation devices, including adults, to lead by example. A child on board a boat must be supervised at all times and not be allowed to board the boat. It is always your responsibility to assess water related hazards. It is up to you to make sure of the following:
- If it's too rough to go out on the boat
- If the water is too cold, rough, dangerous for swimming
- If there are adequate safety devices on board a boat or with you on the beach (for example, the presence of a lifeguard)
- If other children are too boisterous around a baby or a few years old
Step 7. Learn how to perform CPR for a newborn
In the event that the child swallows water and begins to choke, you need to know how to save him. Learn to apply first aid techniques to a drowning child so you can help in an emergency.
Method 2 of 2: Safe Water at Home
Step 1. Use the correct method for bathing your child
Do not overfill the tub - 2.5-5 cm will be enough. Never let the baby's head go under water while you bathe him; instead, hold it with your hand or use a container to gently pour the water over the baby.
- Never leave your baby unattended in the bathroom. Even a few inches of water can be dangerous.
- Avoid using child seats to bathe him. According to Safe Kids Worldwide, eight children per year drown due to the use of baby seats. Babies and toddlers as young as a few years old can easily slip, being trapped underneath and unable to emerge with their heads to breathe.
- Never leave a baby or toddler in the care of a little brother in the bath. Unless the latter is 16 or older, it is not appropriate to give this enormous responsibility to another child.
Step 2. Childproof toilets and other external water sources
The toilet lid in the house must be equipped with child resistant closures. Make sure you don't leave buckets full of water or other liquids within reach in the kitchen, bathroom, garage or other areas of the house. Aquariums, fountains and other water sources must be covered or out of the reach of children.
- Empty water features and buckets immediately after use.
- Do not leave standing water in the sink.
Step 3. Teach your child to move safely in the water
When the child becomes old enough to understand that it can be dangerous, teach him the correct way to behave when he is near a water source. Do not let him handle the taps without adult supervision. Make sure even older children in the house are aware of the safety measures that need to be followed to protect children from water.
