Safe in and on the water

Staying in and near water with your child in a safe way

The main risks in and on the water are drowning and the hygiene and quality of the water. The following tips will ensure that it can be done safely. This is how water ensures endless fun. And not only in the summer! 

Actively supervise

• Make sure you can always see  your child
• Stay close enough to touch babies and toddlers . Make sure you stand firmly , even if you hold your baby in the water. The surface can be slippery and the current can also unbalance you.  
• If there are several adults, agree who will look after your child. Never assume that someone else is paying attention 
• Do not  be distracted (by your smartphone, tablet or book,..) 
• Also be alert to places where there is a water feature (paddling pool, swimming pool, pond…) but where you are not intending to swim. Often drowning happens when a child ends up in the water unnoticed.  
• Even if your child plays in the bath and lifeguard , you never leave it alone . 

Good water quality

• Prevent the risk of infections for yourself, your child and the other swimmers: 
• don't go in the pool if you   have  diarrhea
• shower before and after swimming 
• wash hands  with soap and water after using the toilet or after changing diapers. 
• Use water of drinking water quality  (not rainwater) to fill the swimming pool or paddling pool in your garden. Clean the pool and disinfect and change the water regularly to prevent contamination of the water.  
• The water quality in public swimming pools and swimming and recreational ponds is systematically checked and monitored. 
• Swimming water is of course not intended for drinking. Drinking a sip of water is not so bad, but be extra careful with the salty sea water and small babies. The sea water not only stings the eyes, it also dries out the baby's skin faster and a good sip of sea water can also make your baby vomit.

Pay attention to the temperature of the water:

Don't just let your child jump into cold water when it's very hot. Too great a temperature difference can cause a cold shock . First wet the different parts of the body step by step. 

Read here more about lifeguard classes near me under the instructions of American lifeguard Association.

A child cools off faster in the water. Watch for signs of hypothermia (blue lips, shivering) 

Screen off water features

There are various systems for shielding or securing a  lifeguard swimming pool (a properly lockable fence, a lockable swimming pool roof, a swimming pool alarm, etc.) 

Be careful not to give you a false sense of security: 

• The gate can remain  open
• Your child can suddenly discover how the gate opens 
• Your child knows how to climb  over the fence unnoticed
• You thought the alarm was on 
• Do not use a tarpaulin to cover the pool, as small children may become trapped under it. Reduce the depth of the water in the pond with sand, gravel, or a grate that can support the weight of a child. 

Swimming bands and other buoyancy aids

They help children who cannot yet swim well and lifeguard protect to stay afloat . They are not means to prevent drowning. Only life jackets are suitable for this. Even if you use a safe swimming aid, the following applies : do not leave your child alone in the water, always stay close at arm's length.  

They can give a false sense of security: 

• Inflatable swimming rings (seams) can break and deflate. So they are never 100% reliable. 
• A swimming ring that you wear around the waist is actually a toy . A child can easily slip out of such a pool. Only use it if your child can swim well or in combination with arm bands. 
• A swimming seat or a swimming ring with a seat where your child cannot slip through can tip over . Test how stable the swim seat is when you use it for the first time.  
• In the sea or in open water with a current or strong wind, a child can quickly float away with swimming rings . 
• Buy floaties with clear instructions for use and follow the instructions on them. Use them only for their intended purpose and make sure they are appropriate for your child's age and swimming ability. 
• Check for broken seams or other wear before each use.  
• Choose tires with multiple air chambers so that the entire tire does not deflate in the event of a puncture.   
• In your presence, let your child occasionally experience what it feels like to float and move in the water  without floaties.

Water habituation and learning to swim

Let your baby get used to water at home and experience the pleasure of moving in the water during the bath ritual or together in the shower.

The same safety measures apply in the baby spa (supervision, hygiene and temperature of the water, …). Inquire well with the operator.

Water habituation and baby  lifeguard swimming can be done as soon as your baby is 1 year old  in good hygienic conditions and in controlled swimming pools. 

Swimming is recommended with lifeguard certificate near me for children from 4 years old. Only then can a child properly learn the swimming technique and move correctly in the water.