A child at my son’s school tragically died this spring. He slipped while out fishing at a lake and drowned. He was only nine. I didn’t know this child personally, but I mourned his loss along with the rest of the school community. He had a big, beautiful smile, and those who knew him said he had an even bigger personality. My heart broke for his mother.
No parent, family or community should have to endure the loss of a child from drowning. Unfortunately, drowning is the leading cause of injury death for children aged 1 to 14, according to the CDC. Three children in our country die every day as a result of drowning.
Those kinds of stats make me want to keep my kids land-locked. But, like many children, they love water and are drawn to it. Our community pool is closed this summer, so we bought a small (and some might say “tacky”) above-ground pool. My son already knew how to swim, but my daughter has gone from wearing floaties to being a little mermaid in just weeks.
How do I keep them safe in our little pool (or the lake, the ocean, any body of water)? What if I got too engrossed in another depressing news article about COVID, or just came inside for 5 minutes to do laundry, and something happened?
How does anyone keep their child safe this summer, when we’re all desperate for a little fun, and maybe a bit (or a lot) more distracted and stressed than we were in pre-COVID times?
I recently talked to Cameron Corder, the Executive Director for the Cleveland County YMCA. The YMCA has been a critical part of North Carolina communities for decades and has taught so many of our children to swim. Here’s our conversation.
Nationwide, and in North Carolina, the drownings statistics are sobering:
Many Y camps are making swimming a part of the daily camper experience with an emphasis on water safety instruction and supervision.
Data shows that a large number of childhood drownings actually take place while a child is in an adult’s care (60%). Often times, groups of adults may think that another parent is watching the kids in the water, when they really aren’t. They may also think they would be able to hear a child struggling in the water and be able to respond. In reality, drowning is a silent event.
Adults should take turns and be intentional about watching children near on in the water. Parents of non-swimmers should always keep their children at arm’s reach while in the water. A child’s safety should never be left unattended. Books, naps and socializing should be reserved for when children are on dry land.
Additional information about at-home drowning risks:
Source: USA SAFE KIDS, CSPC
Before letting your children hit the water this summer, remember these few tips to ensure it’s an enjoyable and safe experience.
One of the challenges in our county and many other rural counties across the state is we are in a dire need for Life Guards. We are using a portion of the funds to recruit and pay for the certifications for new guards.
We have partnered with the school systems in Cleveland and Rutherford Counties to bring 2nd graders through the Y’s Water Safety/Learn to Swim programs. Of course, this spring we were unable to offer them because of the pandemic. We are working on plans to work with the schools and other groups to implement critical swim programs for at risk groups as our pools open.
We all want to have some fun this summer. We all want to cool off from the heat. We all deserve some time to relax and try and take a break from the pandemic and everything that’s going on.
But please, be extra safe and cautious when letting your children play in water. I promise to do the same.
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