I just watched How the Grinch Stole Christmas last night for the first time in a few years. I love that movie. Jim Carrey is priceless. Does he commit to his roles or what? That’s the kind of commitment (in a child caring way) you would want your child to receive when under the care of others. Am I right or am I right? It must be unnerving to leave your child under the care of someone who has proximity to a body of water such as a pool, pond, stream, lake or ditch just to name a few. You know for a fact that no one on this planet cares more for your offspring than you. Grandparents are an exception to the rule. Where does drowning occur?
When my son was very young, we lived right around the corner from his grandparents (pictured above with my son eight years after the fact). They jumped at every chance to babysit.
We were fortunate to have the best kind of caregivers. We also didn’t have any water hazards to worry about either.
When we moved to the desert, our son was twelve and a confident swimmer.
And even though we have an indoor pool, it was never a concern. Our son was old enough to understand that he must never swim alone.
Where does drowning occur? The location where drowning is likely to take place changes with age:
- children under twelve months commonly drown in toilets, buckets, and bathtubs
- and children between the ages of one and four mostly drown in home pools
- finally, older children typically drown in natural bodies of water where does drowning occur
So when leaving your children under the care of others, know the water hazards and take the necessary precautions to prevent drowning.
And if there’s a pool, hopefully, it includes four-sided fencing. If it does not have a fence, insist that your child wears a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket.
There may not be a pool, but in case there is easy access to other bodies of water, then a life jacket is still essential.
And finally, insist that your caregiver knows how to swim and how to prevent and respond to emergencies.
To learn more and enroll in first aid, CPR and AED training, click here.
Stay safe, and I hope you and all your family, and friends have a wonderful holiday season filled with joy and meaning.
If you have any thoughts on the subject or experiences that you would like to share, I would love to hear from you.
Love the water, so
Tessa so
P.S. Get the FREE water safety app to help ensure your family stays safe in, on and around the water. It includes kid-friendly videos and quizzes. Search the iTunes app store for Swim by American Red Cross or click here. For Google Play you can use the same search parameters or click here. It provides the latest in water safety guidance to help ensure your family stays safe in, on and around the water.
P.P.S. To start your child on the path to becoming water safe, click here.
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