5 ways to protect your kids from drowning this summer

Since 2014, 97 children have drowned in the Tampa Bay area — which includes Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties — according to data from the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office. The alarming rate of child drownings makes it one of the most common causes of pediatric deaths — especially for those under the age of 3. But experts say drowning is a 100% preventable fate.

Michelle Sterling, a children’s wellness and safety expert at BayCare, and Dexter Lewis, spokesperson for the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County, shared five ways to keep your kids safe around bodies of water.

Designate a water watcher

All it takes is 20 seconds for a drowning to occur, and it often isn’t as dramatic as the movies make it seem, according to Lewis.

“In many cases, it happens silently,” he said.

This makes it all the more crucial that adults, or designated water watchers, are keeping a close eye on little ones as they swim. A water watcher is an undistracted, responsible adult located within arm’s length of children. Water watchers should put down their cellphones and step away from the other grown-ups, he added.

“In the time it takes to post something on social media or laugh at a joke, a child potentially has drowned,” Lewis said.

Whenever possible, water watchers should be in the water with the kids. Switch out the designated water watcher as often as every five minutes.

Water watchers should be properly equipped for the job. Keep a safety whistle on hand, and instruct kids to wave their hands in the air when they hear the whistle so you can keep track of everyone in your group who is in the pool, ocean, lake or any other body of water. The whistle can also be used to call for help if a child begins to drown.

Know where your kids are

Two out of three kids who drown are last seen in the house, and 69% of all drownings occur during non-swim times, according to the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County. Install door alarms on exterior doors — particularly those that provide access to a pool, lake, retention pond or other body of water — that will alert you if your child leaves the house.

Kids are naturally curious and drawn to water. So if a child does go missing, check outside first.

“Within minutes, something could happen,” Sterling said.

Once you know the outside is clear, then go back inside to search bedrooms and closets.

Take outdoor safety measures

If your kids do get out of the house, make sure there’s nothing dangerous outside for them to come across. Install a pool fence with a self-closing, self-latching lock out of reach of children to seal off the pool area.

Remove any leftover pool toys after the kids have left the water. This reduces the risk of children jumping or falling into the pool when swim time is over to retrieve a toy.

Although it may seem unlikely, toddlers — and kids in general — can drown in just 1 inch of water. Flip over kiddie pools and buckets so rainwater doesn’t collect in these smaller vessels.

If you’re planning on bringing your kids over to homes with pools, check in with grandparents, relatives and friends to ensure that they also have these protections in place. With hurricane season underway, this is especially vital ahead of potential evacuations.

Sign up your kid for swim lessons

While they can be helpful, water-wing floaties aren’t enough to prevent drownings, Lewis said.

“They’re not as reliable as the ads say they are,” he said.

On the other hand, swim lessons reduce the risk of drowning by 88% for children ages 1 to 4 — and summer is a perfect time to get started. Lewis recommends getting kids as young as 6 months old enrolled in lessons. He says learning to flip onto their backs is important for kids of any age — especially infants just learning to get comfortable in the water.

While you’re at it, make sure you feel confident in your swimming skills as a parent or guardian.

“Don’t let your child get in that water if you yourself don’t know how to swim,” Sterling said. “We don’t want two people drowning.”

Learn CPR

CPR is the “first line of defense” before paramedics arrive on the scene, according to Sterling. Sign up for a local CPR certification, or look into resources from the American Red Cross.

“It really does save lives,” Lewis said.