FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM MAY 23, 2019 • CAMPS • THE QUEENS COURIER 55
6 tips to keep children safe around water at camp
Summer is fast approaching, which
means that more children will be in and
around water areas such as pools, lakes
and oceans. Like many parents, you worry
about your children’s safety around water,
no matter how old they are.
According to the CDC, drowning is the
leading cause of injury death among children
aged 1-4, and the third leading cause
of unintentional injury death in children
and adolescents aged 5-19. Two children
die every day due to drowning, and
according to a study from the National
SAFE KIDS Campaign, 88 percent of
children who drown do so while under
adult supervision. Many don’t realize that
drowning can occur quietly, with no overt
signs that the child is in trouble.
Th e good news is that you can follow
safety tips - and teach your children skills -
to help keep them safe while enjoying water
activities. Supervising children vigilantly
and creating barriers to accessing water
unexpectedly are the fi rst steps in averting
a tragedy. Teaching children how to be
safe in and around water is one of the most
important life skills parents can give their
children. In fact, research shows that participation
in formal water safety and swim
lessons can reduce the risk of drowning
among children 1 to 4 years of age.
Lindsay Mondick, Senior Manager of
Aquatics at YMCA of the USA (Y-USA)
off ers important safety tips to protect
your children from harm around water,
whether it’s in the bathtub, at the beach
or in a pool.
Never swim alone. Nobody should
swim by themselves, in case of accident.
Teach your children that they should
never enter the water anywhere without
a lifeguard and/or responsible caregiver
attending them.
Stay attentive and watch without distraction.
If you’re with a large group, or
even if a lifeguard is present, designate
one person to watch the child or children
at all times. If children are in a pool
or near a body of water, a caregiver needs
to be close, paying full attention and not
distracted by a phone or other diversions.
Wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life
jackets. Children and adolescents must
wear appropriately sized and weighted life
jackets in or around watercraft . It’s important
to understand that not all life jackets
are Coast Guard approved. Adults can
check this feature by looking at the tag on
the inside of the jacket. Non-swimmers
and small children should always wear life
jackets when near water and while swimming.
Adults should also wear them to
model safe behavior.
Don’t practice holding your breath
under water. Children should not have
breath-holding contests or participate in
Courtesy of YMCA of the USA
underwater swimming challenges that
could risk their lives.
Learn CPR. When seconds count,
bystanders may be the fi rst to help, so
learning CPR may save a life. If you were
CPR certifi ed years ago, take a refresher
course. CPR classes are available at
community centers, hospitals and the
American Red Cross.
Teach basic swim skills early. Not only
do most children enjoy swimming lessons,
but taking formal lessons can save
their lives. Many free or reduced-cost
options for classes are available at your
local YMCA for children from 6 months
old through adults. Learning basic water
safety and swimming skills at an early age
helps children cope with potential dangers.
In Safety Around Water classes at the
Y, adults and children learn what to do if
they fi nd themselves in water unexpectedly.
Participants practice basic skills like
how to fl oat and tread water; learning how
to push off the bottom of the pool as they
are submerging to get back to the surface
can help a child fi nd and grab the side of
the pool for safety.
Each year, the Y teaches over a million
children and teens how to swim, providing
lessons about water safety in a fun,
safe environment. Th ere are classes available
to meet every family’s needs and
schedules. Water safety not only saves
lives but also builds confi dence. Learning
to enjoy activities in and around the water
nurtures children’s social-emotional, cognitive
and physical development. Water
safety and swimming lessons promote a
lifelong enjoyment of swimming while
encouraging healthy living. For more
information visit www.ymca.net.
Courtesy BPT
Courtesy of YMCA of the USA
camps
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