Be water savvy this summer

It’s summer and everyone, especially kids, just want to play in or around water, because it’s a great way to beat the heat and have fun. Here are some basic tips to keep your tots safe in the water.
Source: By Licia Selepe, Living and Loving magazine

Playing in the water can be a great way for kids to have fun and exercise. Your little ones will enjoy the water experience more if they know and practice safety. Kids need constant supervision and extra care around water, in order to avoid unnecessary accidents. The Medical Research Council of South Africa consistently lists drowning as one of the three leading causes of accidental death in children under the age of five years.

According to the Child Accident Prevention Foundation of South Africa (CAPFSA), small children can drown in as little as four centimetres of water, in just a few minutes. Chiedza Mavengere, from CAPFSA, says that children can drown in buckets, bathtubs, ponds, dams, rivers, swimming pools, and even in drains. By taking a few precautions, you can help ensure that your little one’s time in or around the water will be safe and enjoyable.

Safety begins at home

While we tend to be more aware of water safety when we’re out and about, research shows that young children are most likely to drown in and around the home. Here are a few ways to reduce the risk of water accidents at home:

Never leave small children alone in the bath.
Use a non-slip mat in the bath. Keep empty baths, tubs and other containers after use or when full, behind locked doors.
Always fit lids firmly on buckets filled with water.

Near swimming pools

Your pool is a luxury – making it safe for your children is an absolute necessity.

Put a high fence around the pool and install a gate that locks, and alarms.
Cover the pool when it’s not in use.
Watch children constantly – don’t be distracted by reading or talking.
Do not allow children to play around the pool or store their toys outside near the pool area.

At the beach or river

“Constant supervision of children around water is important. The sea is unpredictable, even in shallow water. Kids can be swept away and may drown,” says Mavengere. He cautions parents to be alert when a child is using a floating lilo, because it can easily be swept away with the child on it. Watch for weather changes, waves, currents, and rip tides. Check with the lifeguard to find out how strong the waves are. Teach kids to swim only when and where a lifeguard is on duty.

Temperature

The temperature of the water is important, too. Test your pool's water temperature before you let your little one in. Enter the water slowly and make sure it feels comfortable for you and your child. A temperature below 20°C is cold to most swimmers. Recommended water temperatures vary depending on the activity and the swimmer's age – in general, 28-30°C is comfortable for recreational swimming for children. Kids are more comfortable when the water is on the warmer side of this temperature range. Remember that body temperature drops more quickly in water than on land, and it doesn’t take long for hypothermia to set in. If a child is shivering or experiencing muscle cramps, get him or her out of the water immediately.

Make your kids water-wise

It's important to teach your kids how to behave in the water, and to make sure that you take the right precautions, too. Your kids must understand that swimming in a pool is different from swimming in a river or the ocean – there are different dangers for each. Let your kids know that they should contact the lifeguard or an adult if there's an emergency. Kids shouldn't run or push each other around the pool, and should never dive in areas that are not marked for diving. Teach your kids to stay away from water when you’re not there to supervise, and teach them to always ask permission to go near water.

With these safety tips in mind, have a fun and safe summer!

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