Is swimming safe for children?
Many
parents want their children to learn to swim from an early age. Teaching
children to swim allows them to be safe in the water. It doesn't take long for
a child to accidentally drown in water. Drowning is the second leading cause of
death in children and adolescents.
Experts
recommend that children from one year and older take swimming lessons. It is
still not recommended to try to teach swimming to babies and children under one
year old.
The
reason they recommended that children be four years of age before starting
swimming lessons was because they were concerned that children under the age of
four might learn the lessons properly. They also feared that parents who taught
their children to swim would look after them less than they should because
their children can swim.
A
child can drown in just 3-5 cm of water. This is because they do not
have full control of their muscles and can choke. Even small amounts of water
in the mouth and nose can prevent them from breathing.
If
your child is over a year old and you think they can learn to swim, then
teaching them how to swim can reduce their risk of drowning. A great way to
teach your child to swim is to sign up for both of you in a parent-child
swimming lesson.
Enrolling
your child in a swimming lesson is one of the many ways to protect them in the
water. Just learning to swim is not enough to keep your child safe. You must
constantly supervise your child when he is in the water. Often young children
are in danger because their parents did not realize that they had entered a
pool or other source of water.
What to look for in a swimming program
If you
are considering enrolling your child in a swimming program, be sure to choose
one that has qualified swimming instructors. They must be certified by a
nationally recognized swimming training program. There should be lifeguards on
duty ready to provide first aid.
The
swim program for infants and children under four years of age must take place
in an age-appropriate space. You and your child should feel safe and
comfortable during every session. The instructor should teach all participants
basic water safety skills and conduct activities with the child that promote
physical, emotional and social development.
You
should also make sure your child's swimming schedule includes:
- Clean Water: The institution that runs your
child's swimming lessons must disinfect the water and maintain the proper
chlorine levels. Children often swallow or inhale water during activities, so
it is important that the water has a certain level of purity.
- Touch supervision: children should always be at arm's length from an adult so that they can reach and touch them. It is helpful for parents to be in the water at this time so they can practice communicating with babies and young children when they are not in swimming lessons.
- Warmer water: Children are more susceptible to hypothermia, so swimming lessons should keep the water temperature between 30 and 35°C.
Practice proper safety in different water sources
Splashing
and playing at the beach or other watering hole is a fun way to spend time with
the whole family. Even if you know your child can swim, you still need to be
careful depending on the body of water.
- Pools: look for markers that let you know the depth of different parts of the pool. You want your child to be in the shallowest part of the water.
- Lakes and ponds: Sometimes it can be difficult to
see the bottom of a lake or pond, so be careful when taking your child into the
water. You don't want to accidentally lose your footing and grab onto your
child.
- Beaches: Many beaches have currents even in the water near
the shore. Always check current conditions with the lifeguard. With a baby, it
is better to stay on the shore.
- Water parks: Many water parks have sections dedicated to babies and toddlers. It is recommended to stick to the rides to ensure maximum protection for your child.