The most memorable moments of summer holidays often involve water, be it a rowing pool in the garden, the local lido, the lake or the sea. However, it is important to ensure that the whole family is designed on potential hazards and risks that water can raise.
“With more people enjoying water during the summer, a disproportionate amount of people drown in the United Kingdom between May and August, and we see a greater number of drowning in extreme heat periods,” says Jo Talbot, commercial director of Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK). “Through the delivery of high quality water education and safety advice, accidental drowning can be prevented.”
Here are some security tips for parents of less than five, over five years and adolescents, so wherever this summer goes, you can enjoy the refreshing water without stress.
Tips for parents of children under five years:
Supervise
“I always look at children near the water and keep them available to the arm,” says Talbot. “When your children are in the water, supervise at all times, enjoy water with them.”
Carlene Mcavoy, senior manager of Water Safety Policies in the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (Rospa) agrees and adds: “Keep your child's hand when it is close to any river route inside or on the coast.”
Ensure a stroller
If the brake of a stroller does not work, it can cause the stroller to move away, which can cause injuries to the child and others.
“Always secure the brake on a walking chair or a stroller when it is near the river tracks,” Mcavoy advises.
Pools or lock and cover jacuzzis
“If you have a hot or cold bathtub, make sure you are blocked and covered so that young children cannot access it,” Mcavoy recommends. “Remark pools should always be emptied and stored in a safe place when they are not in use.”
Near the garden ponds
Garden ponds can be a danger, particularly for young children, but with adequate precautions and design, risks can be minimized significantly.
“Keep in mind if visiting places or friends with garden ponds,” says Mcavoy. “Always watch your children. If you have a pond, we recommend you fill it or fence it safely.”
Tips for parents of more than five:
Be careful with slippery surfaces
“The place does not always mean safe. If you are venturing inland, take into account the dangers around water, such as unstable soil and slippery surfaces,” says Mcavoy.
Go to supervised swimming sites
“If you decide to go swimming with your children, it is better to use a site properly supervised with lifeguards such as a beach, lido or pool on guard,” Mcavoy recommends.
Choose brilliant colored swimsuits
“View your child with bright colored swimsuits so that it can be seen,” Talbot suggests.
LOOK
“Do not cut for the tides,” Mcavoy emphasizes. “If you go to the beach or a lake or a river of tide, take a time to plan your day around the tides. Go to the weather office to enter its location and discover what time the high and low tide will be.”
Point out safety and key warning signs
“Teach your children to look for security signs or warnings that help provide information to keep them safe, for example, flags of different colors on the beach,” recommends Talbot.
Teach them on the Water Safety Code
The Water Safety Code is a set of simple and easy to remember guidelines that encourages people to stop and think, stay together, call 999 and float.
“Teach children and young people to call 999 in emergency and tell the call operator who has an emergency based on water on the coast or inland,” Mcavoy advises.
TIPS FOR PARENTS OF ADOLESCENTS:
Educate them about water safety risks
It is crucial to educate adolescents about water risks to guarantee their safety.
“We encourage the parents of adolescents to discuss the safety of water and the dangers of inner water, such as rivers, lakes and quarries,” says Talbot. “Being able to swim sometimes cannot be enough to keep them safe.
“The dangers under water can cause entrapment, the currents can attract a person underwater; and even when the air temperature is high, the water can be cold, which will affect a person's ability to swim, which makes them drowning.”
Tell them about alcohol risks near water
Drinking alcohol, especially in excess, raises several risks when combined with water or when it is near bodies of water.
Explain how alcohol can affect your judgment and increase the possibilities of an accident, Mcavoy advises.
Warn them about the dangers of jumping to the unknown
“You cannot always see what is under water and if it collides with a rock or other submerged items, it runs the risk of serious impact lesions,” says McAvoy.
