Child safety: Drowning prevention

And it’s not just your swimming pool you need to worry about as it takes only 30 seconds for a child to drown in just 4cm of water. ChildSafe notes that drownings are silent and happen quickly, leaving guardians completely unaware unless they are in the immediate environment. What’s more, 4 to 6 minutes of not breathing results in permanent brain damage. 

There are steps, however, that you can take to protect and keep your children water safe at home. 

Lessons for life

One of the most important things we can do for our children is to teach them to swim as early as possible. This is essential even if you do not have a swimming pool at home. 

Young children, in particular, are always keen to join in activities with their friends and very often don’t realise that swimming requires skill. This can very quickly turn to tragedy, especially if you are not around. 

In addition to being taught how to swim, children should be taught what to do if they or someone else is battling in water. This will help children make safe decisions and prevent the tragedy from extending to another person. 

As parents, it’s ultimately our responsibility to teach our children how to behave safely around water, whether it’s a swimming pool, river, flash flood or shallow pond. This includes staying away from water unless a responsible adult is present, resisting running and jumping, and safe play in water. 

Outdoor water safety

While teaching your child to swim can help them develop a healthy relationship with water, even the strongest swimmer can drown after hitting their head, getting tangled, cramping or simply becoming exhausted. As a result, it’s important to put measures in place to keep your children safely removed from water. 

South Africa’s laws require swimming pools to be fenced in or have a safety net. However, child safety specialists recommend you consider a multi-layer approach that starts with secure fencing and a child-proof lock. If your budget allows, add safety covers and a pool alarm that will alert you when a child or pet enters the water. 

Of course, these security measures mean nothing if they are not used properly, so get into the habit of keeping the gate closed – even when the family is swimming – and putting on the pool cover, setting the alarm and locking up. 

Don’t forget to check your property for any other areas where water builds up, including ponds, water features, baby and dog pools, garden holes and containers. If you cannot keep these areas free of water, add security covers or grates that will prevent your children from reaching the water. 

Indoor water safety

Bath time can be a lot of fun for kids, but the combination of water, soap and slippery surfaces can be particularly hazardous. A slip and a bumped head can quickly result in drowning for an unattended child and adult too. 

If you are running a bath and have to step away, make sure your child leaves with you and make it a habit to lock the door until you get back. Children should never be left in the bath, no matter how shallow the water or how quick you will be. 

The bath is not the only area of the home that could result in drowning and thought should be given to items like toilets and fish tanks. Toilets are an ideal height to attract curious toddlers and should always have the lids closed and child locked if there are young children in the home. Alternatively, the bathroom door can be kept closed and locked until your little one is older. 

Another overlooked item is fish tanks. These attract children of all ages and youngsters often want to get even closer than the glass will allow. These should have child-locks fitted or grills put in place to prevent children reaching down into the water. 

All buckets, containers and paddling pools should be emptied as soon as possible, covered with child-proof lids or locked away in a room or cupboard. 

Given the dangers posed, children should never be left unsupervised around water whether indoors or out. As tempted as you may be to run to grab the phone or make a quick dash to the loo, it’s important as parents to remember it takes only 30 seconds for a child to drown.