Water Safety: Protect Your Child from Drowning

Water safety tips for children under 1:

. Empty all buckets and any other large containers after use.
. Keep the bathroom door closed at all times.
. Never leave a child alone in the bathroom.
. Keep toilets closed or use toilet latches.
. Use a rigid, lockable cover on a hot tub, spa, or whirlpool.

Water safety tips for all children:

. Children in the water should be supervised at all times.
. Empty wading pools after each use.
. Inflatable pool toys should never be used to keep a child afloat.
. Never allow running or pushing in pool areas.
. Children should never swim alone.
. Do not allow children to chew gum or eat while swimming, diving, or playing in the water.
. Do not allow diving if there is more than one person on the board.
. Never dive into an above-ground pool
. Never swim during thunder or lightning.
. Young children should always were a life jacket while in a boat or playing around water.
. Children 4 and older should be enrolled in swimming classes taught by an accredited instructor.
. Teach teenagers about the dangers of drinking alcohol and swimming, boating, or water skiing.

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Information about Water Safety was graciously shared by Dr. Patricia Keener, author of Caring for Kids: Useful Information & Hard-to-find Facts About Child Health and Development , and Riley Hospital for Children.