The 5 Layers of Water Safety Every Family Should Practice
Drowning is the single leading cause of death for children ages 1-4. Splash Mobile Swim Lessons is based in St. Petersburg, Florida, which is sadly the state with the most drowning occurrences in the U.S. per year.
Tragically, almost 70% of drownings of young children occur during non-swim time. Drowning IS preventable, but the most effective water safety strategies must be learned, advocated, and implemented at all times.
There are simple steps we can take to ensure our children are safe in and around water. Drowning happens quickly and quietly, so one layer of safety is not enough. Multiple layers are necessary to help reduce the risk.
Remember, if a child is missing or unaccounted for, always check the pool first—with water safety, time is of the essence, and every second counts.
The National Drowning Prevention Alliance recommends the following 5 Layers of Protection:
1. Barriers & Alarms
2. Supervision
3. Water Competency
4. Emergency Preparation
5. Life Jackets (when appropriate)
1. Barriers & Alarms
Barriers
Fencing is Essential
Many pool owners find removable mesh fencing can be an affordable choice. When designed, installed, and maintained correctly, removable mesh fencing can provide the same protection as an isolation fence made from other materials, but only when it is in place. The fence should be kept installed and gates should be self-closing and self-latching.
All fences must be non-climbable, meet all applicable local safety codes, and should be at least 48" tall.
It’s important to routinely check the entire perimeter of the pool fence and gate for compromises or damage and adjust if the gate is not self-closing properly.
Always double-check to make sure the gate is locked when children are outside around the pool.
If you live in the Tampa Bay, Florida area, consider using Tampa Bay Baby Barrier Pool Fence Co. for your fencing needs.
House Doors
All doors providing direct access from the home to the swimming pool should be equipped with a self-closing, self-latching device with a release mechanism placed no lower than 54 inches above the floor. Self-closing devices are available for use on sliding glass doors but will require more frequent maintenance to keep the track clean and the closing mechanism in proper working condition.
Pool Covers
Pool safety covers are a also good choice as an added layer of protection. The NDPA recommends choosing only covers that meet the ASTM International voluntary standard F1346-91, whether that be a power-operated pool safety cover, lightweight manual, or semiautomatic cover. It’s also important that covers are used and maintained properly, such as promptly removing any rainwater that it has collected and not allowing children to play on it regardless of the weight allowance.
Some lightweight manual and semi-automatic covers must be replaced after every swimming session, and require diligent commitment by pool owners.
Alarms
Doors and windows that open to the pool area should be alarmed to alert adults when opened. The NDPA suggests a system that has a momentary shut-off at the door located beyond the reach of children. You can also place a weather-resistant alarm on the gate mechanism, which can sound both at the pool and in the home, to advise when the gate has been opened.
Types of Alarms
Surface Alarms
Designed to detect motion on the water’s surface, these are floating alarms that can sound both at the pool and in the home. Keep in mind that while very low cost, some models can have a high false-alarm rate due to wind and rain and should never be relied on alone.
Subsurface Alarms
Fortunately, this category of alarm technology continues to improve. Available models include underwater alarms which attach over the edge of the pool to the pool wall, or underwater. The alarms are designed to sound immediately when a child enters the pool. We highly suggest this type of alarm is professionally installed, detects immediately, doesn’t create false alarms, and can reset after swimming.
On-Body Alarms
Worn on the body, these devices will set off an alarm if they become wet. While they can be a good layer of protection to be worn by children who are visiting a home with a pool, or while traveling, it is not recommended as a daily layer of protection against an always-present water danger.
Perimeter Alarms
Like an automatic garage door system, perimeter alarms work with lasers and are activated when something crosses the laser. The downside here is that pets could create false alarms.
2. Supervision
Always assign a “Water Watcher”!
Designating a “Water Watcher” is a great tactic when you’re having a gathering of friends or family. This person’s sole responsibility is to keep constant watch over children in or near the water, without engaging in social activities, phone calls, or any other distracting activity.
Remember the "3 C's" of Supervision
Close: within an arm's reach
Constant: uninterrupted attention
Capable: can swim & knows CPR
After fifteen minutes, a new “Water Watcher” should be designated so that supervision stays fresh and doesn’t accidentally tune out. Never assume that someone is supervising your child; be clear about who the designated “water watcher” is at any given time.
It’s important to note that flotation devices are not a substitute for supervision—“water wings” or “floaties”, “puddle jumpers”, inflatable water rings, and other pool toys are NOT safety devices. They should NEVER be relied on as a “drown-proofing” method of supervision or a way to teach children to swim.
3. Water Competency
Swim Lessons Are Essential
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends starting swim lessons as early as age 1. Formal swimming lessons reduce the drowning risk of children ages 1-4 by 88%. Water competency and swim lessons should be continuous, and not taken for just one season – skills need to be developed and maintained during the entire year for many years.
All caretakers must understand that children are never considered “drown proof,” even if they have undergone swim lessons. Nothing will ever eliminate the risk of drowning, but learning to swim and get back to safety in a pool emergency equips children with a life-saving layer of protection.
Learn to swim programs should teach safety in and around the water and teach students what to do if they end up in the water unexpectedly.
4. Emergency Prepararation
CALL FOR HELP!
Keep a phone poolside for emergency use so that an adult can call for help if needed.
Learn and Practice CPR
It’s vital for anyone who lives in a home with a pool to learn CPR and rescue breathing. Any babysitters, nannies, or caregivers should also have current CPR training and certification.
In a group setting, such as a pool party, at least one person should know CPR. Regardless of who it is, proper training and certification should be refreshed every one to two years, depending upon the certification agency, or more frequently if there have been recent changes in recommendations.
Many parents try to YouTube CPR during an emergency when seconds count. Take opportunities during some downtime when everyone is safe to revisit CPR and First Aid techniques so that you’re more likely to be prepared in an emergency event.
5. Life Jackets
Always wear a life jacket when in or around open and natural bodies of water and when boating. St. Petersburg, Florida is a peninsular city surrounded by 244 miles of shoreline, which means there is a lot of open water. This makes wearing a USCG approved life vest very important, and it also means enrolling children in swim lessons is especially crucial.
Parents are encouraged not to over-rely on these devices for swimming in pools or delay the use of other layers of protection such as learning to swim. There is no evidence that life jackets alone can teach a child to swim. Never replace or substitute inflatable arm bands, inner tubes, “puddle jumpers”, or other water toys for tested and approved life jackets.
Use ONLY USCG Tested and Approved Life Jackets
Not all devices sold by retailers are tested and approved flotation devices. Devices that are not tested and approved should not be considered a safe layer of protection or be part of a family’s water safety plan. Flotation devices are tested and approved by the USCG based on their buoyancy and ability to protect someone while boating.
USCG approval has nothing to do with use in swimming pools, and certainly not about learning to swim. While many swim lesson programs utilize flotation devices as a helpful tool in helping children feel their buoyancy and progress through a skill, there is no evidence a child will learn to swim independently and proficiently or gain water competency by solely using a flotation device.
Splash Mobile Swim Lessons of St. Petersburg, Florida is a member of the National Drowning Prevention Alliance and commits to providing swim lessons that teach safety in and around the water. Every lesson focuses on instilling the foundation to equip children from 1-5 years old with life-saving skills to get back to safety in a pool emergency.
