With Dr. Julia DeVita Owens, Novant Ballantyne Pediatrics
Summer in the Carolinas means family beach trips and pool days. Many parents look forward to seeing their children play in the waves and learn how to swim. However, hot days spent outside by water inherently brings about risks.
- According to the CDC, more children ages 1-4 die from drowning than any other cause except birth defects.
- In children ages 1-14, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death second to only motor vehicle crashes.
Dr. Julia Owens, a pediatrician with Novant Ballantyne Pediatrics, provides some tips on precautions you can take to ensure your child is safe while still developing a healthy relationship with water.
Drownings can be easy to miss – Choose a designated supervisor
It is easy to miss a drowning person because they often do not show the classic signs of distress that you see in the movies (shouting for help, waving arms). Adults and children are often silent when they find themselves in trouble in water.
- In fact, it is estimated that nearly half of childhood drownings occur when an adult is just 25 yards away.
Often relying on lifeguards at a busy pool or beach is not enough. It can be hard to keep track of all the people in a pool, and it is easy to look over one child in distress. I recommend to always have one adult designated as a supervisor whenever around any water. During this period, the designated adult should abstain from drinking alcohol, reading, or talking with friends. I often recommend that all responsible adults in your party take 30–45-minute shifts on guard duty. That way the children can be watched appropriately while the adults still get breaks to socialize and enjoy their time when ‘off duty.’ You can also designate swim breaks where children are asked to get out of the pool, reapply sunscreen and grab a drink. This allows them to stay sunburn free while giving the adults a much-deserved rest!
Many drownings do not happen during designated swim time
Toddlers and young children are often drawn to water sources like flies to honey. Data shows that nearly 70% of drownings happen during non-swim times. I always recommend that parents survey the scene to identify any potential water hazards- these can include bath tubs, hot tubs, pools, koi ponds, large buckets of water, and natural water sources. If you are out at a social event and identify a potential water hazard, I recommend designating a responsible adult to be on ‘water duty’ similar to above. It is very easy in large social gatherings to miss your child slipping away quietly to explore. Since it only takes approximately 20-30 seconds for a child to drown, there’s a small margin of error.
If you are at your house, I recommend removing any potential water hazards from the backyard including bird baths, fountains, or ponds. If a private pool is installed, it is always recommended to surround the pool with a fence that has 4 sides. Pool alarms and pool covers alone have not been shown to be effective. The fence should be at least 4 feet tall with slats no wider than 4 inches. Install a self-closing gate that latches and can remain locked when the pool is not in use.
Start swim classes
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that swim lessons can add a layer of protection for all children over the age of 1. These swim lessons introduce the skills needed for swim readiness and start to teach children that water can be a hazard. Kids differ in the age where they are developmentally ready for swim lessons, so when signing up for swim classes, always take into account your child’s developmental abilities and emotional readiness. The AAP also states that by 4 years old, swim lessons are a must for almost all families. By 4 years old, the vast majority of kids are developmentally ready to learn how to float, tread water, and make their way to a pool exit.
The AAP does not currently recommend infant swim classes since there is no data that it reduces drowning rates. Often infants have “swimming reflexes,” which means that when an infant is placed face down in a pool they will often reflexively start to paddle or do swimming motions. Despite these reflexes, your infant is not yet strong enough to lift his or her head and ensure that he or she can breathe properly in water.
I never discourage my families from starting classes early when they express an interest in infant swim lessons. Early introduction to water can create a healthy relationship with water and be a bonding activity for families. I typically advise parents to wait until their child is at least 6 months old to sign up for lessons. This gives the infant time to get the primary series of vaccines and develop strong head control. I also reinforce to all parents that these infant classes should not create a false sense of security, and that all caregivers should continue to practice very diligent water precautions.
Puddle jumpers and Arm Floaties can put your kids at more at risk
Puddle jumpers or arm floaties can also create a false sense of security for both parents and children alike. Children can think that they are suddenly invincible in water and parents are often more relaxed around water when the children are wearing these items. However, floaties and puddle jumpers are actually not approved personal flotation devices. Floaties often keep kid’s arms and trunk in a more vertical position, however they may not keep your child’s face out of the water. They also start to teach kids a vertical swim position, versus the proper horizontal swimming posture. If your child was to fall into water accidentally and replicate the vertical posture learned from floaties and puddle jumpers, it could lead to disaster. I always recommend early swim lessons, and if using a flotation device for an extra layer of protection, look for a life jacket or device that is US Coast Guard approved.
Your child will swallow and choke on water when learning to swim – and it’s OK!
When teaching toddlers and young kids to swim, they are going to swallow and cough up some water. Stay calm and pat their back to help them get the water up. By staying calm, you reinforce that swimming is fun and not something that they should develop a fear of. After your child swallows the water, make sure they can speak, are alert and coughing. This rarely leads to any medical issues and is a part of the learning process.
A lot of media coverage in recent years has discussed “dry drowning.” This is not a true medical term, but describes a very rare condition where airway muscles spasm after coming into contact with water preventing airflow. This is typically after a submersion incident and not just from swallowing pool water while playing. However, if your child chokes on a large quantity of pool water at once, it never hurts to keep a close eye out for any persistent cough, difficulty breathing, or fever over the next couple of days. We are always happy to see your kids in the office and take a quick listen to their lungs if you have concerns.
Learn CPR
Encourage all of your friends, babysitters, and family members (including older children) to learn CPR. In life, accidents invariably happen and I recommend that everyone learns how to respond when there is an emergency. The American Red Cross offers online and in person CPR classes in Charlotte. Within a few hours, you can have hands on training by experts on how to help in a crisis.
Enjoy Your Safe Swimming
Don’t let this article intimidate you from introducing your child to water. Nothing is more rewarding than watching your young child take their very first swim strokes or watching your baby experience the ocean for the first time. With proper precautions and guidance, your children can grow up to be safe swimmers with a healthy respect and love for water. If you have any specific questions about how to keep your children safe near water or when’s the right time for your family to start swim lessons, set up a time to meet with a pediatrician like Dr. Julia Owens for more guidance.
Novant Health Ballantyne Pediatrics
14215 Ballantyne Corporate Pl
Ste 130
Charlotte, NC 28277-3671
Phone: (704) 384-1950
Hours of operation:
Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
