You Can’t Hear a Drowning

Keeping an eye on your children while they swim is crucial for preventing drowning. You can’t hear if a child is under water and struggling to breathe. That’s why adult supervision tops the easy-to-remember water safety tips for parents.

It’s as easy as ABC

Jessica Mitchell, Safe Kids Pima County coordinator, helps spread the word to the community about water safety. She offers this quick guide as a key to safe swimming:

A = Adult supervision; B = Barriers around pools, spas and hot tubs; C = Coast Guard approved life vest and life-saving CPR classes

What are some ways to keep kids safe?

Active supervision is a must. Keep your eyes on your child. Being in the pool with them doesn’t mean you can hear if they need help. Drowning is known as the “silent killer” because a drowning child can’t call for help.

• If you are poolside, avoid distractions. This is not time to catch up on your reading or scroll your phone.

• Infants and toddlers should stay within an arm’s reach of an adult.

• Don’t rely on swimming aids such as water wings and pool noodles. These are fun, but they are not intended to prevent drowning. Rely on Coast Guard-approved vests.

• Remove all toys when you’ve finished swimming for the day. Reaching for toys in an empty pool can increase the risk of them falling in and drowning.

• Barriers should be in place to keep children from entering the pool on their own. Alarms on house doors and pool fences with self-closing gates can help keep kids safe.

• Always keep a phone nearby so that you can call 911 in the case of an emergency.

• Empty kiddie pools and turn them upside down when finished. Drowning has happened in just a few inches of water. 

What swimming rules should I set for my children?

• Only swim if an adult is a present.

• Do not dive in shallow areas of the pool (or the entire pool if it is not deep enough for diving).

• Don’t push or jump on others.

• Don’t go swimming during thunder/lightning storms.

My kids took swimming lessons, so I probably don’t need to watch them as much, right?

While we encourage swimming lessons, even good swimmers should not be left alone. It takes multiple lessons before a child learns how to swim effectively and even then, there should still be active supervision by an adult.

What do I do if I think a child might be drowning?

• Take the child out of the water.

• If you are alone, call 911 and begin CPR. Starting CPR immediately is the most important thing you can do to prevent a child from dying.

• If you are not alone, begin CPR and ask someone to call 911.

• Check for breathing and responsiveness. Place your ear near the child’s mouth and nose to see if you feel air on your cheek. Determine if the child’s chest is moving and call the child’s name to see if he or she responds.

• Even if you think your child is OK, symptoms can be delayed by 6-12 hours after a near-drowning experience. Contact your physician or head to the Emergency Department if your child has symptoms like coughing, shortness of breath or trouble breathing,

Should I be CPR-certified?

Anyone who routinely supervises children around water should get CPR certified. The certification courses are provided by many community organizations, including the American Red Cross.

It sounds like there is a lot to prepare for – can the water still be safe and fun for my family?

Absolutely! Swimming can be great family fun. Just remember the safest way to enjoy the pool is to have Adult supervision, a Barrier around the pool and someone certified in CPR. Happy splashing and don’t forget the sunscreen!

On Aug. 11, TMC and the Tucson Jewish Community Center will host a free water safety day from 1-4 p.m. at the Tucson J, 3800 E. River Road, Tucson. Swim instructors will provide 10-minute swim evaluations and safety demonstrations at the pool from 2-3 p.m. There will be yard games, a bounce house, swag bags, vendors and a pool-side DJ. This is open to all ages and registration is not required.

Learn more about water safety and overall kid safety.