The summer season is a time for fun in the sun, and swimming is often the activity of choice for families across America. However, with the joys of swimming come the risks of drowning, particularly for young children. According to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, each year 389 children drown in swimming pools or spas, leaving families devastated and wondering what could have been done to prevent it.
As the recent heartbreaking drowning of NFL player Shaquil Barrett’s 2 year-old daughter highlights, this type of tragedy can happen to anyone. In fact, according to the CDC more children ages 1 through 4 die from drowning than any other cause of death. In many cases, these fatal drowning incidents occur because of a failure to properly secure the pool area or inadequate pool maintenance. That is why it is essential to take proactive steps to prevent such accidents from happening.
If you have a swimming pool, make sure to secure the area with a self-locking gate and a fence that is at least 54 inches in height. Always supervise young children when they are in or near the pool and consider enrolling them in swimming lessons. Make sure that children always wear a life jacket around pools or other bodies of water, even if they know how to swim. Additionally, ensure that all pool equipment is well-maintained and functioning properly, and never allow a child to swim alone.
Let's work together to prevent tragedy and ensure that our children can enjoy swimming safely.
Click the link below and subscribe to our YouTube channel to learn more tips on swimming safety.
Comments