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As summer approaches, families across the country are gearing up for trips to the beach, lake, or local swimming pool. With drowning being the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4 and the second leading cause for kids in the 5 to 14 age group, ensuring water safety is crucial. In 2021, 973 children under 19 drowned with another 6,500 treated for near-drowning incidents, highlighting the importance of water safety measures.
Experts recommend having an adult monitoring the water at all times as well as implementing barriers around backyard pools to prevent unsupervised access to water. Learning to swim is also essential for children, with numerous programs available across the U.S. Teaching children skills such as treading water, floating, and being able to safely return to the surface in case of an emergency can be life-saving.
Additional tips include always swimming with a buddy or in areas supervised by a lifeguard, wearing U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets, and enforcing safety rules such as no running or pushing on pool decks. Parents should also educate their children about the dangers of open water, such as rip currents in the ocean or undertow in lakes, and the importance of swimming in designated areas.
By following these water safety tips and guidelines, families can enjoy a fun and safe summer while preventing tragic accidents from occurring. Remember, water safety is everyone’s responsibility, and a few simple precautions can make all the difference.
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Photo credit apnews.com
