How Do You Safeguard Children From Drowning?
Drowning is the chief cause of accidental death among children. Over half of drownings in children aged one to four occur in swimming pools. When children five years or older drown, it is usually in open water. For children under 1 year of age, half of the drownings occur in a bathtub. Parents can take simple steps to safeguard their children from drowning at any age. Step 1 Teach children to swim. Most children are ready to learn by age four. For children who do not swim: when you are near recreational water, use a proper size U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket. Water wings and inner tubes are not substitutes for life jackets. Swimming lessons and life jackets are safeguards, but not guarantees against drowning. Step 2 Fence in the pool. Seal it off completely from the house and yard. Use a self closing, self latching gate that opens outward. Ensure the fence is a minimum of four feet high. Confirm that children cannot reach the latch. As an additional safeguard, install a fence al
