Drowning Prevention: How to Stay Cool and Safe This Summer

THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR CHILDREN UNDER 4 IS DROWNING. Think about that for a minute. In fact, more than 4,000 fatal drownings and more than 8,000 near-drownings occur each year in the U.S. 1

As parents and caregivers, we have a duty to make our environment as safe as possible for our children to explore the water. The reality is risk is out there. There is no way around that. We cannot keep our kids in bubbles out of fear, so we must be prepared. Here are my top tips for a safe summer in 2023.

Wear life jackets. Many kids despise life jackets. I used to hate them as a kid—so bulky, awkward, and just plain uncomfortable. If this is what you’re thinking, I have good news for you! If you haven't already heard of the Puddle Jumper life jackets, I can tell you as a mom of four, they are life changing. They strap around the back so the child cannot take it off without help, they do not rise up around their neck, and they support the child’s natural position for swimming. The best part is that they are U.S. Coast Guard approved (look for the seal of approval when purchasing) so they can wear them on a boat as well. The trick to life jackets is to get your kid to start wearing it as soon as they are within the weight range (about 20 lbs) and don’t let them swim without it. I simply told my kids they are not allowed to go near the water without it, and it became such a part of our swimming experience that no one even knows otherwise.

Talk to your kids about water safety. This should be an ongoing conversation. Let them know it is unsafe to be around the water without supervision, how to get in and

WRITTEN BY JESSICA out of the water safely, and to pay attention to their surroundings in natural bodies of water and at pools.

Teach your kids to swim. This seems obvious, but I know plenty of adults that still cannot swim. Knowing how to swim does not eliminate the risk of drowning altogether, but it sure goes a long way in reduction. Starting around 3 or 4, most kids are perfectly capable of learning the basics of swimming. Proper instruction helps with body mechanics, and with practice, they will be swimming in no time. There are many swim schools in Chico, Orland, and Oroville that are great with kids at a variety of price points. If it’s not in the budget this year, chances are you or someone you know can help teach your children. Get them set up with a regular time to be in the water each week and practice kicks, arm strokes, back and tummy floating, and blowing bubbles with their face in the water.

Designate a water watcher. Whether at backyard barbecue, birthday party, or picnic at the river, at any given time there should be a designated water watcher. This means that for a certain period of time, the water watcher is on duty to make sure no one falls in the water. In my family, we take turns in 30-minute increments, so one person isn't stuck watching the kids the whole time. This is especially important at gatherings! When there are many people around a pool, it is more likely that no one is watching, because everyone assumes someone else is watching. My mom even went so far as to create a “water watcher” badge on a lanyard! We hand it off from person to person, so there is no confusion about who is supposed to be watching the kids. This also means that if a child does fall into the pool, they will be pulled out immediately.

Take a CPR/First Aid class. This is the number one thing you can do to make sure you are prepared if the unthinkable happens. When a child (or adult) inhales water into their lungs, the lack of oxygen causes the heart to stop. This is called secondary cardiac arrest. If you have to pull a child from the water, high quality CPR from a bystander has been shown to increase survival rates up to 91%.2 This means that knowing CPR is the difference between life and death for your child. Doing nothing while you wait for EMS to arrive means precious minutes without oxygen to their brain, resulting in an increased likelihood of brain damage or death.

Be prepared this summer! Take a CPR class, teach some swimming skills, grab some life jackets, and get the conversation started about water safety. I want you to confidently take your kids to cool off in the creek, picnic on the Sacramento River, and dip into the pool at backyard barbecues and swim parties. Drowning is scary, but it is preventable! So get out there in the Chico heat and have some quality family fun. Be safe out there!

1 Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https:// www.cdc.gov/drowning/facts/index.html

2 According to SwiftWaterRescue.at, “289 rescue reports between 1999 and 2004 were studied from the Dutch Maatschappij tot Redding van Drenkelingen (Society to Rescue People from Drowning)... Of the 90 cases of bystander CPR by lay-persons on removal from the water 82 survived. This is a 91% survival rate.”