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Swimming & Boating Safety

Water Safety

     Facts, Tips & Solutions to Prevent Drowning

Annually in Florida, enough children to fill 3-4 preschool classrooms drown and do not live to see their fifth birthday. The Florida Department of Health states, Florida loses more children under the age of 5 to drowning than any other state.

Caregiver involvement is critical to helping prevent, prepare for, and cope with emergencies. Use Layers of Protection to help keep your family safe:

Layer One: Use barriers and alarms

Layer Two: Have close, constant and capable supervision

Layer Three: Everyone should learn to swim and have water competency and survival skills

Layer Four: Use life jackets

Layer Five: Be prepared for aquatic emergencies

Some tips to stay safe at the beach and while boating: Stay vigilant about the weather: seek shelter when you hear thunder, exit the water immediately, and move to a safe location. Florida holds the title of being the lightning capital of the United States.

LIGHTENING CAN STRIKE A BEACH OR WATER FROM UP TO 10 MILES AWAY, EVEN IF IT SUNNY! 

  • Have basic rules in place before you get to the beach or on the boat 
  • Teach children that swimming in open water is not the same as a pool 
  • Be aware of currents and rip currents and teach how to avoid and escape 
  • Stay hydrated and reapply sunblock every 2 hours 
  • Swim and boat only in designated areas 
  • Have a designated driver on the boat 
  • Jump, do not dive, into water that is unfamiliar

See our SWFL Water Safety Guide for more information on swim lessons, finding life jacket loaner stations and where to take CPR/First Aid classes.

Keep Your Child Water Safe

Learn more about water safety, swim lessons, layers of protection and resources for you and your loved ones

Swimming and Boat Safety

Among preventable injuries, drowning is the leading cause of death for children 1 to 4 years old. Children less than a year old are more likely to drown at home in the bathroom or a bucket. Drowning is 100 percent preventable! 

NEVER SWIM ALONE

Watch kids when they are in or around water, without being distracted. Keep young children within arm’s reach of an adult. Make sure older children swim with a partner .

Close toilet lids and use toilet seat locks to prevent drowning. Keep doors to bathrooms and laundry rooms closed.

Teach children how to swim. Every child is different, so enroll children in swim lessons when they are ready. Consider their age, development and how often they are around water.

Make sure kids know how to swim and learn these five water survival skills:

  1. Step or jump into water over their head and return to the surface.
  2. Float or tread water for one minute.
  3. Turn around in a full circle and find an exit.
  4. Swim 25 yards to exit the water.
  5. Exit the water. If in a pool, be able to exit without using the ladder. Install fences around home pools.

A pool fence should surround all sides of the pool and be at least 4 feet tall with self-closing and self-latching gates.

Empty kids’ pools after each use. Store them upside down so they do not collect water.

Know what to do in an emergency. Learning CPR and basic water rescue skills may help you save a child’s life. 

Boating

Always have your children wear a life jacket approved by the U. S. Coast Guard while on boats, around open bodies of water or when participating in water sports. It is highly recommended when on docks as well.

Make sure the life jacket fits snugly. Have kids make a “touchdown” signal by raising both arms straight up; if the life jacket hits a child’s chin or wars, it may be too big or the straps may be too loose.

Infants and young kids are at a higher risk for hypothermia, so if you are taking a baby on a boat, just take a few extra precautions to keep your baby warm. If the children seem cold or are shivering, wrap them tightly in a dry blanket or towel.

Explain some basic rules and have everyone follow them. Children need to understand and follow rules such as keeping their hands and feet inside the boat at all times and not running on a boat.

Enroll older kids in a boating safety course. Better yet, enroll with them.

Get a free safety check every year from the U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary for U. S. Power Squadrons. Find a location at http://wow.uscgaux.info/peclass.php?unit=070

Just like on the road, have a designated driver for the boat.

In many states, no one under 14 years of age may operate any personal watercraft at any time, even if such person possesses a Boating Safety Education ID Card.

For more general information about kids safety visit: safekids.org