As the weather warms in our region and more families are getting out into the water to swim, fish, boat, paddle, etc., it’s important that water safety is top of mind. Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury death for children aged 1-4, and the third leading cause of unintentional injury death for children aged 5-19 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , 2022). Drowning can happen quickly and quietly, but it is preventable. Help keep Kitsap County waters safe by practicing these easy water safety and drowning prevention tips:
Choose to swim where lifeguards are present
In our community, there are no lifeguards on duty in any state or county parks[DB1] . However, most local pools that offer open swim for children and families have lifeguards on duty. Even when a lifeguard is present, it’s still important that adults supervise children closely.
Wear a US Coast Guard-approved life jacket
Wearing a life jacket is a simple, important step everyone can take to prevent drowning. There are several Life Jacket Loaner Stations throughout Kitsap County where anyone can borrow a Coast Guard-approved life jacket while they are visiting the water.
Big 5 Sporting Goods is also offering a 20% discount on life jackets until the end of September in[DB2] Washington State, in cooperation with Seattle Children’s and the Washington State Drowning Prevention Network.
Sign up for swimming lessons
Formal swimming lessons can start at a young age and can also be useful for older children. The American Academy of Pediatrics supports swimming lessons for children as young as one year of age, and parents can choose a swim program that prioritizes water survival competency skills (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2019). Participation in formal swimming lessons may reduce the risk of drowning by as much as 88 percent among young children aged 1 to 4 years, who are at highest risk of drowning (Brenner, 2009).
Locations that offer swimming lessons in Kitsap County:
- Bremerton Family YMCA
- Haselwood Family YMCA
- Olympic Aquatic Center
- Kitsap Tennis and Athletic Center
- North Kitsap Community Pool
- Wing Point Golf & Country Club
- Parkwood Community Club
- The Pool at Peasant Beach Village
- Kitsap Golf & Country Club
- Bainbridge Island Aquatic Center
Supervise children closely in and around water
Designate a water watcher when you are in, on, or around water. Watch all children and adolescents swimming or playing in or around water, even if they know how to swim.
Young children or inexperienced swimmers need to be always within arm’s reach of an adult.
You can print and assemble a Water Watcher Card from the Red Cross – this can easily identify who is monitoring children around the water, and it includes safety steps to take in an emergency.
Swim with a buddy
Even if someone is a strong swimmer, it is still a good idea to swim with a buddy. Avoid consuming alcohol or other substances before swimming.
References
American Academy of Pediatrics. (2019, 3 15). Healthychildren.org. Retrieved from Swim Lessons: When to Start & What Parents Should Know.
Brenner, R. e. (2009). Association between swimming lessons and drowning in childhood: A case-control study. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 163, 203-210.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . (2022, October 7). Drowning Prevention . Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/drowning/prevention/
[DB1]Wow! I didn't realize this fact!
[DB2]Maybe put a date for coupon or comment; good until September 30th or during the summer months….
