Children and Swimming Pools: What Every Adult Should Know to Avoid a Summer Tragedy

Drowning is the leading cause of accident-related death for children ages 4 and under, and it is the third leading cause of accident-related death among those 19 and younger, Safe Kids Worldwide reports.

Almost 800 children drown in the United States annually, and two-thirds of those deaths occur between May and August, according to Safe Kids Worldwide; children 4 years old and younger make up half of all drownings.

Nationwide worked with Safe Kids to conduct a study that documented widespread misconceptions about child drownings:

• Nearly half of parents questioned thought that if a child was drowning nearby, they would hear it. That may be true in a dramatic movie but not in real life. Drowning is silent and there can be very little splashing, waving or screaming.
• One out of three parents have left a child alone in a pool for two or more minutes, thinking nothing bad could happen in a couple minutes. The reality is that drowning is quick and parents may have less than a minute to react once a child starts to struggle.
• Three of five parents said they didn't worry as much about kids who have had swim lessons. The reality is nearly half of kids 10-17 who drown could swim.

Here are some practical steps to keep kids safe:

• Make sure kids have these basic water survival skills: They should be able to step or jump into the water over their heads, return to the surface and tread water for one minute and turn around in a circle and find an exit from the water without use of a ladder.
• When with other adults whose children are swimming, take turns as "water watchers." A water watcher agrees to keep an eye on the kids without distractions such as reading.
• Install at least a 4-foot tall fence around pools with self-closing, self-latching gates.
• Empty kids’ pools after they're used and store them upside down.
• Learn CPR and basic water rescue skills.

Photo: Robin Slomkowski via Flickr