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Swimming and water safety for young children
Many young children love being in or around water, whether it's a backyard pool or a local beach. But without proper safety measures, water can be dangerous for young children.Drowning is one of the leading causes of death among children
aged one to four years. Babies and toddlers drown most often at home, either in bathtubs or swimming pools.
Will swimming lessons help protect my child in the water?
Swimming lessons for children younger than four years of age aren't effective at preventing drowning. At this age, children aren't old enough to learn water safety, or how to react in an emergency situation.All young children, especially
preschoolers, should be supervised by an adult when they are around water.
When can my child take swimming lessons?
There isn't much research on exactly when young children are ready to learn how to swim. At least one study says that children don't have the skills they need to swim until they are four years old, even if the lessons started at a younger age. Children should be at least four years old before they take part in formal swimming lessons.
If you want to get your young child involved in other organized water activities, look for programs that help build confidence in your child and educate you about water safety.
Water safety tips:
- Never leave your child alone near water, whether it's a pool or the bathtub. Children can drown in as little as 4 cm
- (1.5 inches) of water.
- Home swimming pools should be surrounded on all sides by gates that are self-closing and self-latching from the inside.
- The gate latch should be above the reach of children and locked when not in use.
- Government-approved personal flotation devices should be used by all young children and other children who cannot swim.
- Toddlers and infants should be within an arm's length of an adult when they're around water (pools, bathtubs, beaches, etc).
- Infants who are placed in water must be held by an adult at all times.
- Parents and pool owners should get training in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). They should also have an emergency action plan.
For more information: Swimming lessons for infants and toddlers Source: Developed by the CPS Injury Prevention Committee.
Courtesy of Canadian Paediatric Society* (* Will open in a new window.)
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