Everyone talks about this post and is shared on the social networks of parents and families around the world. The revolution has caused it Natalie Livingston, mother of two children. He lives in California (United States) and He has been training lifeguards for 20 years and investigating water accidents and drowning deaths.
Therefore, it is not surprising that when he posted on his Facebook page Aquatics Tribe an entry about what he does to prevent accidents in the water, he went viral. Especially now, immersed as we are in the middle of summer, where more often than we would like to hear about a child who has drowned in a pool, the river or the sea.
He has given us permission to publish in Babies and More his 10 tips to prevent children from drowning. Pay attention, because they are really interesting.
We need to protect our children in the water
The impact of its entry has been so great that it has even surprised the author, although when she published it she asked to share the advice to avoid accidents. Therefore, he explains that seeing the desire of families to learn about water safety measures, Natalie Livingston, CEO at Oostman, a water security consultant, explains that she has decided to create a new Facebook account, just for the purpose of helping them: Aquatic Safety Connection.
"We hope this page becomes a place of connection and resources for all children and adolescents, parents, grandparents, caregivers, water sports participants, bathers, water park enthusiasts, private pool owners and all water lovers and security. "
And, as she warns herself, "I have read a lot about water safety and tips for parents to pay attention to their children and not be distracted, which is very important. We see many news articles about drowning during this time of year, but many are not practical and only the problems stand out, so I decided to write my own list of tips to help. "
1. Safety report, before bathing
The idea is based on one of the rules established in swimming lessons, to make sure that my children always asked for permission before entering the water. I have expanded it with a small sharing of each other's expectations.
My children now know what to expect (sometimes impatiently) and continually ask me: "Mom, what do we need to know?" I explain where they can swim, jump, how they can jump, and any other safety related measures.
A good time to do so is while applying sunscreen. They also know the consequences if they don't follow the safety rules.
These meetings are A way to teach my children to have respect for water. Obviously they know it is dangerous, knowing what my job is, but sometimes the aquatic centers, the water parks, the beaches and the pools look so fun and tempting that it is easy to forget them.
I think as parents we need to be as concerned about safety as it is about fun, but that requires effort.
I think some people don't want to ruin the fun by adding rules, but I know that rules create limits, which gives freedom for sure.I also love to include my children in safety conversations. "What do you think the rules should be? What do you see as dangerous?" They also have some amazing ideas and sometimes they see things that had not occurred to me!
2. Water depth versus height
My children know the depths of the water and how to read them on the walls of the pool, and they know what it means in relation to their height.
My six-year-old son knows that 4 feet of water (just over 1.2 meters) pass his head, and 3 and a half feet of water (just over 90 cm) reach his eyes, so they still cover his airways .
My eight-year-old daughter knows that four feet of water reach her eye level. If you need to step on the bottom, your airways would be blocked at this depth.
Knowing it helps them make good decisions and understand how water depth is different for each person. Your taller friend may not have problems in the four-foot area, while if they need to stand up, they would have trouble touching the bottom.
The awareness of depth in relation to your body is important. It keeps me away from "But mom, Jayden can go there ...". "Yes, it can, it's also 6 inches taller than you!"
3. How to escape
Last weekend I jumped into the water fully dressed and with my phone in my hand, in a hotel, after a tournament in the water in which my eight-year-old daughter participated. It was instinctively: a five-year-old boy panicked and grabbed a four-year-old girl and they both ended up fighting. He was holding her and she was trying to stay above the water. I went in and took them both out. Both were naturally scared, but fine.
In cases of drowning we see it often: children who swim well alone, but are in danger if someone grabs them, because they fight and cannot escape. I have taught, and I am still teaching my children, how to escape if someone grabs them. My daughter is a great swimmer, but I still don't think she can hold on to the water and keep her and another child floating.
I have taught them to inspire, dive, grab:
"Breathe air if you can (breathe), get under water (the person who is fighting does not want to be there), and grab (use your arms and legs to push), and then shout at an adult to immediately help the other person".
As well I have educated them to be very careful who they touch or grab in a pool. Even adults can be weaker swimmers and may have difficulty enduring them. The key is to have your own space.
4. Reminders not to get distracted
I ask my children to hold me accountable. They know that my husband or I must be watching them at all times. We have told you that if we are not observing you, you should request our attention and help, because as humans we get distracted naturally.
I try to stay involved in their activity and keep my phone away, but I still get distracted by other children, food, chatting ... Life is full of distractions.
I have tried to change tactics, so I downloaded an application to remind me every minute to be alert, with my phone in airplane mode. A) Yes, every minute I miss a warning "Kids Breathing" (children breathing). In this way I check that my children are well and then delete the notification.
Of course, my goal is constant supervision, but sometimes my brain begins to wander towards something I am thinking about and the notification makes me focus again on where I am.There are hundreds of campaigns to designate a "water watcher" with a specific label that indicates that we have a responsibility to monitor the water. I think these measures are excellent, but we still need to make sure that the person watching is not distracted.
Therefore, alerts can always keep you focused and away from your mobile, for anything other than watching your children. Even if you put the phone in airplane mode, you may still be tempted to look at it from time to time. You must be aware of your distractions, both internal and external. If the phone is a distraction, the alerts may not work for you and you should look for another trick that keeps you focused and keep it for as long as you are near the water.
In Babies and more Nine safety tips to enjoy water parks with children this summer5. Designate breaks
We swim for a designated time, usually 30 minutes, which varies depending on where we are and the activity we are doing. But we always have breaks.
I need them more than my children. As a lifeguard, we rotated every 20-30 minutes with the idea of giving our minds a break so we could keep cool. The same applies to parental supervision.
I need to go to the bathroom, I have to do other things, I also need a break too! Therefore, we designate time in the water and time outside.
And if the breaks are also unforeseen, if I have to make an emergency visit to the bathroom or open the door, Everyone comes out of the water, every time!
In Babies and more The prohibition of bathing up to two or three hours after eating makes no sense, pediatricians say6. Limited list of caregivers
This may sound hard, but I don't trust other people to take care of my children in the pool. It's me or my husband, that's all: if they're swimming at grandma's house, they have to wear a life jacket; If they get into the water on the beach at a table with their cousin, they have to wear a life jacket.
I see fatal cases in which another person was trusted, "While I'm going to do XYZ, or Grandpa took them to the pool, or a neighbor invited them to come."
I may love them and they love my children, but I don't trust them, nor do I want them to be responsible if something happens to one of my dependent children. It just isn't worth it.
I prefer that my children complain about having to wear the vest. I don't care, no! They know that the other option is not to go. The same goes for parties at the school pool and camps with water activities. For me it is not worth it.
The same goes for swimming areas with lifeguard.
I am the main source of supervision for my children and that the first responders are there to ensure safety and for emergencies.I don't trust them for basic supervision. I only have two children and I can supervise them much more closely than a lifeguard who has to decide their attention among 25 or more people.
7. Life jackets are great
Culturally it seems that we have a negative attitude towards life jackets. I don't think there's anything wrong with them. In fact, there are many games and activities you can do with them. If I am seeing a lot of children, I would prefer everyone to be in a life jacket.
It can be a pool party with a cousin's life jackets. Getting all one does much more cool and it doesn't embarrass younger children or beginner swimmers. When I ran the camps, even the monitors used them. Act like them!
With life jackets, we can organize water balloon launch competitions, make relays to pass the rings through the toes ... The games are endless, and safety is greater with everyone wearing a life jacket. Now there are times that my children say they prefer to swim with them. Awesome.
Just an additional note: I mean a life jacket approved by American safety regulations (European in the case of Spain). Check the inside of the vest to verify that it follows.
Churros, floats, sleeves, and other children's items to float on water should not be used or trusted as a safe element for children.We see countless videos of children who turn around in a float and get stuck with their heads under water without being able to turn around, or children with sleeves, who can't get their heads out of the water because their arms are not strong enough , or children who lose the board they clung to to float.
Even if your child wears a life jacket, you need to monitor it diligently and constantly, as children can be placed in positions that can clog their airways, especially the smallest ones.
8. Educate about the dangers of water
My children know what it is to drown. They know that water is dangerous. They know that good swimmers can drown. They know that a medical emergency can occur without notice. They know that drowning can happen quickly.
I talk to them about how events happen, what their weaknesses are. They know they can't breathe in the water, they know why we take swimming breaks, they know why they enter the water with their feet in front of them, they know why we don't do games or activities that involve holding their breath. It is not just because I say so, but because I try to give real reasons to my rules. A healthy fear of water is a good thing.
9. "Hey, look at this ...", danger alert
Phrases like "Hey, look at this ..." they are usually the preamble of something dangerous or imprudence about to happen. It is a way for children to announce that they are exceeding the limits or that they are going to show off something, so I take these kinds of sentences as an excuse to talk about the danger of overstepping the limits.
"Are you showing me something or are you about to do something risky?" There is a difference and I try to show you good decisions in the water. Phrases like "Hey, look at this ..." They are ways of referring to other people's behaviors and intentions.
Now they alert me when others use these types of phrases too. I always say that We can have fun without being silly.
In Babies and more Teenagers are the second age group with the highest rate of drowning: precautions for a safe summer10. See something, say something
My children are part of my safety team. They are friends who take care of each other and ask them to take care of other children. I often ask my son where his sister is, or what the other person is doing.
I want to train them to look at others and make sure they are well, so they know what they are doing. My daughter the other day said: "Mom, I almost called you ... that boy was underwater and I counted 5 ... 5, 4, 3, 2, 2, 1, but he reappeared before I reached 2."
I asked him what he would have done if he were still underwater when he reached one, and he replied: "I would say something to you or an adult until someone answered." Perfect.
Children are an additional layer of protection and have good instincts. My children know that they should not assume that someone is playing. If they see someone underwater, they start counting.
Often in drowning investigations we see children (and adults) swimming over or around someone who is underwater and doing nothing. They assume that they are well, that they are playing, that they are doing it on purpose. Do not assume it. Teach them the five second rule and what to do in those cases.
Other water safety tips
- Swimming classes save lives.
Learn the CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) maneuvers. Patients who drown need oxygen.
Only wear life jackets that comply with safety regulations. No sleeves or floats.
Locate a lifeguard and try to choose areas under his supervision.
You have to enter the water with your feet in front, little by little, without throwing yourself.
Do not run around the pool.
Keep children hydrated and protected from the sun.
Any surface of water is dangerous, even if it only covers a few centimeters.
Better to always swim in company.
If a child is lost from sight, first look him in the water.
Photos | iStock
