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Child safety: How to prevent drowning
Water may be fun to play with — but it can also be deadly. Consider child safety tips for home pools, natural bodies of water and common household hazards.
By Mayo Clinic staffMost children are drawn to water. It's sparkly. Things float in it. And it's fun to splash. But child safety takes on new meaning near water. Anyone can have a water-related accident — even children who know how to swim. To keep your children safe in and near the water, follow simply child safety guidelines.
Child safety: Residential swimming pools, spas
Multiple layers of protection can help prevent drowning in a home pool or spa. If you have a pool or hut tub, follow all local safety ordinances. Also consider these general child safety tips:
- Fence it in. Surround your pool with a fence that's at least 4 feet (1.2 meters) tall. Slatted fences should have no gaps wider than 4 inches (10.1 centimeters), so kids can't squeeze through. Avoid chain-link fences, which can be easy for children to climb. Install self-closing and self-latching gates with latches that are beyond a child's reach.
- Install alarms. If your house serves as part of your pool enclosure, protect any doors leading to the pool area with an alarm. Add an underwater pool alarm that sounds when something hits the water. Make sure you can hear the alarm inside the house.
- Block pool and hot tub access. Use a rigid, motorized safety cover to block access to the pool when it's not in use. Secure a cover on hot tubs as well. Don't allow water to collect on top of the pool or hot tub cover. Remove above-ground pool steps or ladders or lock them behind a fence when the pool isn't in use.
- Teach children to swim. Most children can learn to swim at age 5 — but know that swimming lessons won't necessarily drown-proof a child.
- Remove toys. Don't leave pool toys in the water. A child may fall into the water while trying to retrieve a toy.
- Keep your eyes peeled. Never leave children unsupervised near a pool or hot tub. During social gatherings, adults can take turns being the "designated watcher."
- Beware of drains. Don't allow children to play near or sit on pool or hut tub drains. Body parts and hair may become entrapped by the strong suction. Use drain covers, and consider installing multiple drains to reduce the suction.
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References
- Water-related injuries: Fact sheet. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/drown.htm. Accessed Nov. 25, 2008.
- Parenting corner q & a: Water safety. American Academy of Pediatrics. http://www.aap.org/publiced/BR_WaterSafety.htm. Accessed Nov. 25, 2008.
- The injury prevention program: Home water hazards for young children. American Academy of Pediatrics. http://www.aap.org/family/homewatr.htm. Accessed Nov. 25, 2008.
- Policy statement: Prevention of drowning in infants, children and adolescents. American Academy of Pediatrics. http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;112/2/437. Accessed Nov. 25, 2008.
- How to plan for the unexpected: Preventing child drownings. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/359.pdf. Accessed Nov. 25, 2008.
- Backyard pool: Always supervise children safety commission warns. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/5097.html. Accessed Nov. 25, 2008.
- Prevent child in-home drowning deaths. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/drown.html. Accessed Nov. 25, 2008.
- Water safety tips. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/210.pdf. Accessed Nov. 25, 2008.
- Spas, hot tubs and whirlpools. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/5112.html. Accessed Nov. 25, 2008.
- Swimming safety guide. American Red Cross of Greater New York. http://www.nyredcross.org/page.php/prmID/418. Accessed Nov. 25, 2008.
