Drowning is Silent: Guidelines for Safe, Healthy and Noisy Fun at the Pool

Nothing says summer like going swimming. And kids love to get in the water. The splashing. playing. And parents love it too. The shrieks of laughter. The happy faces. The worn out kids at the end. Swimming is a win-win for everyone.

But just like everything we have talked about in our Summertime Safety series, there are safety guidelines while swimming to think about.

The CDC says that, with the exception of birth defects, drowning is the number one cause of death for children between the ages of 1-4 years. Wow! Would you have thought that? And the second leading cause of death from injury in kids 1-14.

Now everyone knows not to just turn your little ones loose at the pool. So, what happens? Clearly, there are some things that happen quickly and unexpectedly. So, let’s talk about how to have a some great water fun while keeping your kids safe while swimming this summer.

There is so much to cover when talking about water safety, not just about drowning, but other kinds of water safety too. But I don’t want to overwhelm you with too much information.  

So, in this article we are going to cover swimming and pool health and safety. Then each day over on my Facebook page  I am going to cover another aspect of water safety. So be sure to check there each day.

So, you are heading to the pool. With everything that means - Baby, bag, sunscreen, snacks, water, toys, swim diapers … the list goes on and on... What do you do first?

I  want to give you a little guideline for looking at your pool day from a health and safety viewpoint.

BEFORE GETTING INTO THE POOL:

Is there a Lifeguard on duty and paying attention to the children? If not a sign must be posted to say Swim at Your Own Risk

Check out the Health and Safety of the Pool

Find out about pool maintenance policies - ask a few questions or look for the posted policies

1. How often are the pool chemical levels checked?
2. What is the policy if the levels are not in line?
3. What are the policies if a poop accident occurs?
4. Know the policies of your facility and check to see when the pool was checked last. Make sure it is in compliance.
5. If not - turn around and go home.
6. Don’t put your baby and children at risk for water related illness. (take my word for this today and come over to Facebook later in the week to learn more)

Take a quick look

1. Is the water clear?
2. Can you see the bottom? The lines on the bottom?
3. Are the sides smooth?  - GOOD!
4. Or Is the water cloudy?
5. Are the sides slimy? - If yes - Do Not Get In!!

But - most water related illnesses are not obvious - just because you can’t see anything doesn’t mean it’s A-OK But these are obvious signs

Does the pool have anti entrapment drain features? 

Is there an anti entrapment safety drain cover on your pool’s drain? Is there a working automatic safety vacuum shut off on the drain?

Every public pool and hot tub must be equipped with these features to protect children from being suctioned to the bottom of the pool’s drain and drowning or being seriously injured. Once caught in that suction it is virtually impossible to pull them from that force without mechanically releasing the suction. (you may need to ask the lifeguard this question)

Locate the pool’s safety equipment. Take a Quick Scan around

Must be a life preserver ring, a hook and a phone to call 911 or emergency services

Does someone (preferably YOU)  know CPR? A lifeguard should be certified

In the time it takes emergency services to get to the scene of a drowning, someone doing CPR on the scene can dramatically improve a child’s chances, not only of survival, but also quality of life. Seconds make a huge difference in a drowning.

What do your smell?

Do you smell a strong Chlorine smell? Think that is good? NOOOO Do not get in!! This is a sign of poor pool maintenance. 

Alert the lifeguard or pool management that the pool is in need of attention and leave.

Check with us on Facebook this week to find out Why That Strong Chlorine Smell Means my Pool Is Likely To Make Me Sick!!

Last thing to do before getting in the Pool:

Everyone goes potty and showers off  

Make this an Important rule - no pee, no poop, no sweat, no blood in the pool

Do you usually ignore that shower rule? Thinking you are already clean. This is really important. And contributes to the health of the pool (and then everyone who gets in) ( and we will talk about this later this week too on Facebook. It really makes sense!

Now You Are Ready For the Pool

Swimmer’s Safety

Choose a Designated Watcher -

Make sure that there is a adult with eyes on the children at all times - like the DD  - Designated Driver

( everyone needs a break once in awhile- sometimes you want a nap or a book to read at the pool - trade off with another mom or dad )

Use  Touch Supervision

If the child is not a proficient swimmer - an adult must be in the pool with them and within touch distance at all times- don’t assume your child is a better swimmer than they are

Do not allow riding toys on the pool deck.

Remember Drowning is Silent

This is surprising to most people because you think that there would be alot of noise and calling for help but children drown without making a noise

And happens in an instant Watch this video posted by Children's Healthcare of Atlanta for further emphasis of that fact

Teach your children life saving swim strokes like floating  

Take swimming lessons when appropriate.  (Want to know when kids are old enough for swimming lessons - we have a day just for that later this week on our Facebook page)  

But My child can swim with Water Wings on

Why are floaties bad?

Parents universally think that it’s ok to let kids swim if they have some kind of inflatable floatation devices on ( water wing, floaties, noodles, rings).

That thinking is as old as - well my boys! We have been lead to believe that water wings and floaties help children learn to swim. And children think that they really swim well with them.  

Parents and kids have a false sense of security about children's abilities to swim with floatation devices on. Kids aren't going to be kept from drowning with water wings on.

Most of these floaties are unreliable, tilt kids face forward and even upside down if they lean far enough forward. And they pop off and kids suddenly sink.  

But the biggest problem according to US Coast Guard (USCG) officials and other swim experts, is floaties put kids in a vertical position and they use their hands in the dog paddle or ladder position with their head back to get air.

That is the same position that they are in when they are drowning.  So, when a parent looks up and sees a child using their body in that position, they look like they are just using their learned “swimming” strokes. But they could be slowly tiring out and silently drowning.

What position are you in when you are swimming? The body is horizontal. Not vertical. So. No. floaties don't teach kids to swim.  

Using a life jacket for swimming is not a good idea either. Because it puts them in that same vertical position when a life jacket should put them in a head back floating position with their face out of the water for rescue.

Any personal floatation device used needs to be USCG approved.

There are a few popular approved ones that you may have seen used in pools (such as Puddle jumper and Paddle Pals). They still keep a child in the upright position, which is not favorable for learning to swim. But they are approved as floatation devices.

If you decide to use these anyway, make sure that you are continuing to use touch supervision.  They do not guarantee your child is drown proof.

Also, take them off and practice swim strokes as often as you can.

During  Swim Breaks

Take a break from swimming every hour

Check swim diapers - change in the bathroom or at changing table - not poolside

Take children to the potty  -This encourages going potty and not peeing in the pool

Have water and snack breaks

Get out of the sun

When swim time is over 

(pay particularly close attention to this information for home pools)

Do not leave pool toys on the pool deck 

Clean all toys up and put away. This is too enticing for kiddos to come back later and get them.

Take everything up and lock up the pool

Make sure the pool is secured when leaving.

1. All four sides of the pool  are enclosed
2. Gate around pool 5 ft tall.
3. No gaps under fence.  
4. If a home pool  - gate separates pool from house.
5. Put an alarm in the pool to notify if someone falls in
6. Put an alarm on the doors of home to notify if someone opens them.

Know which of your neighbors have pools and how it is secured.

Go home and take a great nap!

Pool time is a fun and lovely time for kids to play and exercise and for families to enjoy time to be together. But a poorly maintained pool can ruin a week of fun by making your entire family ill.

(check back later this week on Facebook and we will talk about those illnesses and how to be on the lookout for all of those).

And drowning - well - I am not just scaring you. It  happens all too often as the leading cause of death in these young kiddos. And, countless more have near drowning experiences. So, the purpose in all of this is My Mantra PREVENTION.

I want to tell you this personal story. Not about a pool but a lake. But I think it may help. 

When I was a child, - we had an End of Vacation Bible School party at a lake. It was very crowded and  all of our moms were on the shore watching us.

I was near the shore, not too deep. I could not swim. But I took one step and I was all of the sudden in over my head.

Maybe it was a a push from another child, maybe it was a drop off. Who knows. I reached for another child nearby and that child shoved me away - farther out over my head. I bobbed, I treaded water. I dog paddled. I reached out for someone else to grab. I pushed for the bottom to get my head above water. 

I quietly slipped under the water.

In a lake, drowning kids look just like every other child.

In a busy pool, drowning kids look just like every other child.

And while your mom is talking to the other moms. You are drowning.

I don’t remember how I got to the shore. Everything just went black.

Next thing I remembered, I was on the shore. Someone must have given me a push me back up to shore. Or an angel... I don't know...

I walked to my mom and said shakily said “I was drowning and you didn’t even see me.”

She was surprised. And horrified.

She didn’t know. She never saw me. She thought she was looking the whole time.

Fast forward all these years later. I found a paper in a box of momentos, ironically just a few days ago, that one of my sons had written at school. It was titled “Things About My Mom” and listed all kinds of things about me.  

My mom is a kind of nurse.

She likes to read.

She does not like to swim.

Funny. I don’t. I never have. I didn’t really realize that it was so obvious.

I didn’t really realize why until now.

Make this summer - and every one to come - filled with happy memories of fun times at the pool.

Make a safety plan before you go. ( Did you know I was going to say that?)

Survey the pool health and safety.

Make touch supervision your rule every time.

A Designated Watcher with eyes on the children at all times.

That way you will be doing your part to make sure your child always loves to swim - and that nothing horribly frightening takes the joy out of swimming for him.

And Now… For the rest of the week.

Do you have more questions? Like…

When is a baby old enough to get in the pool?

What do the experts say about swim lessons?

That strong chlorine smell burns our eyes but at least we know the pool is clean, right? (OOOH oh so wrong. Wait til you learn about this one...)

I am going to answer these and other questions for you over the course of the week on our DreamBabyCafe Facebook page so make sure you check in over there each day.

 And if you want to have a deeper discussion, or want some community with other parents just like you, Join the FREE Private DreamBabyCafe Community on Facebook  

And of course, sign up for the newsletter so you don't miss any future blog posts.

But for now…. Go for a swim in the pool. Don't miss a minute with those precious ones!! 

Sunny Summer Wishes, 

LuAnn