Water Safety for Kids

Here in Florida, drowning is the number one cause of death for kids under the age of 4. That number is 2 and a half times higher than any other state in the nation. Florida is consistently number one in drowning deaths for children. The reason, there are so many family homes with a residential swimming pool and protective measures are not being taken to ensure water safety for kids. Children can suffer long-term brain damage when submerged anywhere from 3 to 5 minutes. There are numerous baby products available that parents should consider keeping around the pool during the swimming season to ensure a safe and enjoyable time for all concerned.

Florida state law requires homeowners with a swimming pool to have at least one of the following:

The pool must be isolated from neighboring homes; have an approved pool cover; have an alarm installed on all doors and windows that provide access to the swimming pool;have a self latching device, at least 54 inches above the floor, installed on doors that have direct access to the swimming pool.

Active supervision is key to water safety for kids. Swimming pool safety, or a swimming pool safety alarm, mean nothing without active responsible adult supervision.

The American Academy for Pediatrics recommends teaching your kids to swim at 4 years old. The academy also warns parents these courses are no guarantee of preventing an accident in the swimming pool. Learning how to administer CPR is also highly recommended. Put water safety for kids on top of your summer priority list and increase everyone's enjoyment of the family swimming pool.