7 Tips To Keep Your Kids Safe Around Water

It’s summer – and a great time to take little ones swimming, play outside, and enjoy family time. Just remember to use extra caution with kids around water. In Utah, drowning is the second leading cause of death for children under age 14.

Primary Children’s Hospital provides information and community education about water safety to prevent injury and death. Consider these 7 tips next time you take your family outside and are recreating in or near water.

7 Tips For Water Safety

1. Teach your children to swim and always supervise them around water
   - Be sure adults are present and actively watching children when they swim.
   - Take turns with other adults so there is always a dedicated water-watcher.
   - Water wings are not sufficient floatation devices, as they can deflate or fall off. We recommend life jackets. Supervision is always recommended.
2. Water at any depth can be hazardous.
   - Young children are top-heavy. Swimming pools, bathtubs, and containers with even a little water can result in a toddler falling in head first and possibly, unable to get out of the water by themselves.
   - When not in use, kiddie pools and other containers should be drained and turned upside-down to prevent injury.
3. If you have a pool, keep a closed gate around it at all times.
4. Use extra caution and care to supervise children near lakes, rivers and streams.
5. Teach children to stay away from water while hiking or camping. With lots of precipitation and snow runoff, rivers are fast, full, and cold, making them deadly.
6. If a child is missing, always check nearby water first.
7. Learn CPR

Additional Water Safety Information:

• Be Smart Around Water Safety Fact Sheet
• Primary Children’s “Hold On To Dear Life” Water Safety PSA
• Visit primarychildrens.org/safety for more tips on how to keep kids safe this summer.