Never ever leave your children unsupervised even for a second. “Kids can drown in as little as one inch of water,” says Kate Carr, president and CEO of Safe Kids Worldwide.

If you want to leave the pool, bring your kids with you. Never think that someone else is watching over them. Don’t let them swim if nobody can look after them. Floaters are not substitutes for supervision.

Ideally, look for one-to-one swimming classes, so your child has the undivided attention of the instructor.

“Ideally, the child, especially one who is not an independent swimmer, should be within arm’s reach,” says Kamala.

Your toddlers should learn how to relax in water and to hold their breath when under water in case of emergencies. It would also help if they could learn how to recover their breath and swimming to the side of the pool when they start drowning. This will really be helpful just in case your kid goes into the pool without your knowledge.

A big percentage of drowning happen to children who have had swimming lessons. Toddlers who accidentally fall into a pool will immediately panic and forget everything that they’ve learned about swimming.

If your child jumps into a pool and starts to drown, dive in and get him or her out as quickly as possible. This advice may seem very silly but a lot of children die because their parents panic and freeze in place when they see their children drowning.

Tell your child that they can only get into the water when you are with them. Teach them to ask for permission before entering a pool area, and never to go near a pool without asking an adult first. Nobody should swim alone — not even adults.

Your children might accidentally fall into the pool while playing with these.

Children who cannot swim should have floaters just in case they jump into the water while you are not looking. Make sure it fits well and are not too loose. Kate suggests letting your child choose their own design, so they’ll be more likely to wear it.

Have an action plan prepared so you will know what to do in case of emergency.

Remember, when it comes to your children, safety is of utmost importance. And don’t forget to bring a bottle of sunscreen so that you and your family will be protected from the harmful rays of the sun.

Text: Elena Chong, The Straits Times
Additional Reporting: Shenielle Aloysis and Elizabeth Liew

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