Focus Magazine of SWFL Hot Summer Looks | Page 127

Drowning Prevention & Water Safety Tips
• Create a verbal cue for your toddler or child that must be given by
you before he or she can enter the pool.
• Never allow your baby/toddler in the pool without a swim diaper.
• Create a process the child must go through before entering a pool
such as putting on a swim diaper, a swimsuit and applying sunscreen.
• Never use floatation devices or water wings when swimming or
when teaching kids to swim.
• Children should learn to swim without goggles. Teach your children
to open their eyes under water; if they fall in they can find the side of
the pool or a step and get out safely.
• For very young children practice having them put their entire face
under water in the bathtub and blow bubbles to build their comfort
with water.
• Create a water safety plan for your family and have water emergency drills with your kids covering how to recognize the signs of
someone struggling in water and what to do in this type of emergency.
• Make sure your guests and kids’ friends know your pool rules before
they go outside and get in the pool.
• Start swim lessons at 6 months of age and continue them year-round
at a US Swim School member location.
• Always make sure your children wear life jackets on boats, personal
watercraft and in open bodies of water.

FOCUS of SWFL 2014 127