Health Tip: When Small Children Play Near Water

Anyone — especially a young child — can drown in only a few inches of water.

The American Academy of Pediatrics says it doesn’t recommend any swim instruction for kids under the age of 1.

And even after a child learns how to swim, the child should be supervised by a parent or guardian (preferably one who knows CPR) carefully, the academy warns.

The academy offers these additional suggestions:

Be aware of small bodies of water a child might encounter, such as a bathtub, fishpond, ditch, fountain, rain barrel, watering can or bucket.
An adult should be within arm’s length, providing “touch supervision,” whenever an infant, toddler or young child is near water.
Empty and put away an inflatable pool after a child is finished swimming.
Do not allow running near a pool or pushing others under water.
Don’t allow a child to use an inflatable toy or mattress in place of a life jacket.
Clearly mark a pool’s deep and shallow ends.
Any pool should be completely surrounded with at least a 4-foot-high fence.
If your pool has a cover, remove it completely before allowing swimming.
Keep a safety ring with a rope beside the pool at all times.
Install a phone in the pool area with emergency numbers clearly marked.
A child must always wear a fitted life jacket when swimming or riding in a boat.
Any adult should not drink alcohol when swimming.
Eliminate distractions, such as a phone call or working on the computer, while a child is in the water.