So important to know!
It’s National Water Safety Awareness Week and with the summer holidays fast approaching and the weather expected to get warmer.
Whether you are setting up a paddling pool in your back garden, planning a family day out at the beach, or a fun trip to the swimming pool, water safety should always been at the forefront of your mind.
This week we talk to Carol McNally from Water Babies on how to keep your child safe this summer.
Start Swimming Lessons As Early As Possible
Learning to swim is a key life-saving skill which protects the lives of thousands of people every year. But sadly, over thirty children aged fourteen and under drowned within the last ten years. Water Babies teach children essential lifesaving skills at their classes, growing their confidence and competence in the water as they develop.
Fear of the water is learned behaviour, so it is important to get babies accustomed to the water at a young age and show them how to respond to this environment in a safe way. Water Babies see babies swimming from birth and have had babies as young as a day old in their classes, although the average starting age is between 3-4 months old.
Be Aware Of Your Surroundings At The Poolside
Parents should make themselves aware of the pool that their little one is swimming in, and firstly check the temperature.
Ideally, the temperature should be minimum 30 degrees and if your baby is under 12 weeks or 12lbs, this needs to be 32 degrees or above. Parents also need to survey the wider surrounds and check if there is a lifeguard on duty, whether there are any slippery surfaces, where the deep end of the pool is, and if there are any cracked tiles, as these are all factors to consider when ensuring water safety.
Always Keep An Eye On Your Children
Parents must always keep a watchful eye over their children, even if there is a lifeguard on duty. Lifeguards are a great additional resource but do not rely solely on them. Designate an adult who can keep and eye on the children who are both in and around the pool, and always keep non swimmers within arm’s length.
Floatation Devices Are Not Life Preservers
Floatation devices can be a fun experience for babies and children, however, always keep in mind that they are not life preservers, and even if your little one has floats/armbands, you should never take your eyes off them. These can float away with currents, outgoing tide/offshore wind, or can even tip over with your little one inside.
Paddling Pool and Beach Safety
Paddling pools are great fun in the garden on a hot summer’s day, but always keep water safety a priority, even if your children are in a paddling pool with just a few inches of water. And once you are finished, ensure you empty out the water and tip the paddling pool over.
At the beach, always check whether there are trained lifeguards on duty, always swim in between the designated flags (familiarise yourself with these if you’re abroad, as signage can depend on the country, and keep in mind possible rip tides and currents.)
Kit Your Baby/Toddler Out In All The Gear
There are lots of great things you can use to protect your baby – a floppy sun hat if you’re outside, a happy nappy wetsuit if you’re worried they might get a cold in the water, and for older toddlers, a float jacket can give them a little bit of independence (but make sure you don’t leave them unsupervised near water) or a UV Sun & Sea wetsuit that protect from the sun, while in water.
Learn Basic Life Support
When it comes to an emergency and survival, every second counts. If you’re abroad, make sure you know the emergency number and it is always advisable to have a first aid kit with you. At Water Babies, all our teachers are qualified life savers and are trained to carry out infant resuscitation (a qualification they renew every two years)
National Water Safety Awareness Week, the national campaign run by Water Safety Ireland takes place from 13th – 19th June. To find out more, check out Water Safety Ireland https://watersafety.ie/
