Water Safety
Whether you're bathing your baby in the sink or splashing around with your toddler in the bathtub, water is great fun for kids. But safety must come first.
Bath Time Safety
Most drownings incidents of infants under 1 year old occur in bathtubs. Other drownings in this age group tend to occur in toilets and buckets.
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Do not leave a child in the bathtub unattended. Children can drown in as little as one inch of water.
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Do not leave water in the tub when it is not in use.
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Set your water heater at 120 degrees Fahrenheit and always check the temperature before placing your child in the tub.
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Do not make the bathroom a place children learn to play when not in the tub.
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Keep toilet lids shut and install a toilet lid lock.
Drowning is the 2nd leading cause of unintentional death in children ages 1-4 years and ages 10-14 years.
Swimming Safety
Swimming pools are the most common site for drownings for children ages 1 to 4.
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Never leave a child in the pool or near any other body of water without adult supervision.
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Enroll children in swimming lessons taught by qualified instructors. But remember that lessons don’t make your child "drown-proof."
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If you’re visiting a public pool, keep an eye on your kids at all times. Lifeguards aren’t babysitters.
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Know where the rescue equipment is located.
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Teach your children these four swimming rules:
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Always swim with a buddy.
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Don't dive into unknown bodies of water – jump feet first to avoid hitting your head on a shallow bottom.
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Don't run and don’t push or jump on others.
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Be prepared for an emergency.
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Teach kids to stay away from pool drains and other openings- the suction of these openings can entrap them.
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If you have a pool at home, the use of specially made drain covers, safety vacuum-release systems, multiple filter pumps, and other pressure-venting pool filter mechanisms can reduce the risk of entrapment in pools.