Swimming Safely

Editor’s Note: Are your little ones swimming this summer? Click HERE for a guide to New York City’s best swimming programs

There’s no time like summer to splash around, whether your child is ready to swim endless laps or just dip their toes into the pool. But water safety is important in the midst of all the fun, especially considering that drowning is the leading cause of accidental death among children under 5. We caught up with the Safer3 Water Safety Foundation for tips on how parents can ensure the safest fun on the water this summer.

1. Safer Water: Learn to identify the risks associated with activities in, on, and around the water and how to reduce those risks. Four-sided isolation fencing around every pool could prevent 50–90 percent of childhood drownings and near-drownings.

2. Safer People: Reduce risks by providing constant adult supervision, learning water safety and swimming skills, and wearing a Coast Guard-approved life jacket. Assign a water watcher. Constant supervision is a must. No cell phones, put the book down, and forget about all of the other things you have to do. Give children 100 percent of your attention when they are near or around water. Parents should practice touch supervision when toddlers are swimming.

3. Safer Response: Become trained with emergency response techniques and have an emergency action plan and a phone nearby at all times. All parents should learn CPR. Seventy percent of Americans may feel helpless during a cardiac emergency because they don’t know how to administer CPR or their training has lapsed.

To learn more water safety tips and drowning prevention education, visit safer3.org.

Relevant Directory Listings

See More

Enforex

<p><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial;" data-sheets-value="{" data-sheets-userformat="{">Students 5-18 years old learn Spanish living with Spanish students while having fun at one of our 8 Immersion Summer programs in Spain. Children will make new friends from all over the world, learn languages, play sports and more, all in a supportive, friendly and diverse environment where students open their minds and immerse themselves in the Spanish culture and language.</span></p>

Pocono Springs Camp

<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" data-sheets-value="{" data-sheets-userformat="{">Located in the beautiful Pocono Mountains, just 75 miles from New York City and 100 miles from Philadelphia, Pocono Springs Camp offers a unique concept in the world of overnight summer camps: a traditional co-ed camp experience in a 5-week program. Pocono Springs offers an extensive variety of activities and healthy challenges that allow campers to flourish. Campers have the opportunity to experience personal success, build confidence and independence, while creating lifelong friendships and lasting memories.</span></p>

Chelsea Piers Summer Sports Camp

<p><span style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; background-color: #ffffff;">Chelsea Piers Summer Camp in Chelsea and NOW Brooklyn, offers both Preschool and Full-Day camps where children can learn, play and have fun. With flexible weekly enrollment, your child can join us for a week or all 11 weeks. Camp runs from June 19 to September 1. In Brooklyn, campers receive three swim periods per week with the option to add a 30-minute swim lesson to their camp day at an additional charge. </span></p> <p><span style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; background-color: #ffffff;">Save 15% when you enroll by 2/28!</span></p> <p><span style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; background-color: #ffffff;">NY: [email protected] <br />BK: [email protected]</span></p>