Parents and caregivers, Watching kids in the water is important!  Keeping young ones only as far as arms’ length when in or around water is important.  I read it and say it, over and over. To-date, in New Jersey alone, since May there have been 18 drownings. Some  of these drownings were adults, some were children. Some occurred at the ocean, others in ponds or lakes. Some, at swimming pools. All of them, accidental. None of them should have happened. None of them! And their families’ lives are changed forever.

Recently a 5-year old female child was pulled from a hotel pool in Florida where there are no lifeguards on duty, and she died. Unsupervised swimming is a terrible idea and can easily result in accidental injury or drowning, especially where little ones are concerned. Even if they have good swimming skills, things happen.

But simply watching and being present in the moment for the children in your care is easily half the battle in keeping them safe. Won’t you be a “Water Watcher” for your kids, whether they are dipping their toes in the ocean or taking a splash in the pool.

Approved flotation devices are the only ones children should be wearing if they cannot swim! Ducky tubes and pool noodles don’t save lives; Coast Guard-approved flotation devices that fit properly, swimming lessons for children and adults, and parental/caregiver supervision do! Make sure you do all that you can if young children in your care are going swimming and bathing. 

As a caregiver and water-watching parent, get CPR-certified too! Check with your local Red Cross, fire department, police department or hospital to learn where CPR certification is offered in your community! Often times, the courses are free with a small donation to whatever organization is offering them!  Do it today, you may be glad you did!