Kids love water, lapping it up in beaches or swimming pools. But as every parent knows, never leave kids alone without any adult companions around, in nay body of water. Therefore, before you take your kids swimming, try to remember the following emergency guide:

Basic Safety tricks

If your child is struggling in the water and there’s no lifeguard or anybody around who can swim out there to pull him out to safety, instead of you swimming out to him, which could put you in danger, too, try out these tricks.

• If the child is within reaching distance, extend a long stick or throw out an end of a large towel, and pull him out to safety.
• If the child is within throwing distance, toss him a flotation device – such as a life-jacket or a kickboard. If a rope is available, then by all means, tie it to the device so you can tow him in.
• If you must enter the water, take large flotation device with you. Make sure to keep it between you and your child so that he grabs it – not you – first.

First Aid tips on the Beach

• If your child is stung by a jellyfish, soak the area in vinegar, lemon, or hot water. If there’s swelling, give the child antihistaminic drugs.
• If your child cuts his foot on a shell or sharp stone/object, clean the cut thoroughly with soap and fresh water then cover the cut with a sterilized bandage.
• If your child gets sand or any foreign body in his eyes, continuously flush his eyes with cool fresh water until the irritant is removed. If such fails, immediately bring your child to the nearest clinic/hospital for immediate and proper treatment.
• If your child gets the chills from swimming too long in cold water, warm him up with beach towels and a hat and have him drink water.

Safety Tips for babies

If you must bring your babies into the water, here are some basic safety tips to secure and safeguard the well-being of babies in water:

• Dress your baby in swim diapers to prevent the spread of fecal bacteria in the water.
• If you have easy-to-assemble instant wading pools, make sure to empty it every after use since babies can drown in just a few inches of water.
• Never leave kids unattended in a pool. Make sure that you are within easy reach or an arm’s length away when infants or toddlers are in water.
• Do not rely on air-filled or inflatable swimming aids or flotation devices like those put on both arms or around the waist which can easily rupture or deflate.

Rules on Swimming Pools

• Make sure yourkids wear proper swimming attire like swimsuits, sneakers or rubber-soled shoes to prevent slippage while walking on the pool’s edge.
• Remind kids often not to push others or run near the pool.
• Do not let children dive into the shallow end of a pool or slide down water slides head first.
• Never leave toys near a pool; such could entice a small child to come dangerously close to the water’s edge.
• For kids who don’t know how to swim but insist on riding rafts or floats, make sure that you do not allow them to do so. It can deflate suddenly or the kids may slip off one into the water that is too deep.
• Make sure that you have an emergency action plan in case drowning occurs. Likewise, it pays to know where the emergency and rescue equipments are, as soon as you arrive in the area.

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