Are arm floats a safe way to protect young children from drowning in a swimming pool?
Lifejackets are designed to keep you afloat in water, but they only work if you wear them. Nearly one-tenth of parents believe that children can be left alone while swimming if they are wearing a floatation device such as a lifejacket, arm floats or an inner tube. Only lifejackets and Personal Floatation Devices (PFDs) are designed for safety but a child should not be left alone to swim when wearing them. Arm floats, inner tubes and other inflatable toys should never be used to prevent your child from drowning. Sources: http://www.sickkids.ca/SKCForMedia/section.asp?
Arm floaties are not the best method to keep your child afloat. You will want to go with a children’s life jacket or a pool float designed to help kids safely learn to swing. A float called a swim trainer tee at backyardcity.com is the best thing that I have found. It allows more freedom than a built in life vest offers, but it keeps children from being able to tip over in the water, which could be a drowning hazard. No matter what type of float you choose, make sure that your children are always supervised by an adult because no method is completely safe when it comes to children and water.
