[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/05\/swimming-safety-tips-parents-kids\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/05\/swimming-safety-tips-parents-kids\/","headline":"Swimming Safety Tips for Parents & Kids","name":"Swimming Safety Tips for Parents & Kids","description":"Follow these easy swimming safety tips to make sure parents and children alike enjoy the summer months.","datePublished":"2014-05-19","dateModified":"2021-09-23","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/pediatrics","name":"Pediatrics","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/pediatrics","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/pediatrics\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/swimming.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/swimming.jpg","height":325,"width":754},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/05\/swimming-safety-tips-parents-kids\/","about":["Pediatrics","Safety"],"wordCount":382,"keywords":["Barbara Gaines MD","Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC","Chris Vitale RN MSN","CPR","drowning prevention","injury prevention","life jackets","pool safety","summer","summer safety","swimming","water safety quiz"],"articleBody":"Beating the heat and having fun this summer may mean lots of time spent swimming with your kids. Before getting in the pool, it’s important to know about swimming safety and take appropriate precautions to prevent accidents and injuries.“Keep in mind, drowning is silent,” Chris Vitale, RN, MSN, injury prevention manager at UPMC Children\u2019s Hospital of Pittsburgh says. “Children younger than four\u00a0should be within arm’s reach of an adult at all times, and children over the age of four, even if they know how to swim, should always have an adult’s eyes on them.”In addition to watching your children closely, follow these tips to keep your family safe this summer:Never let your child swim during a stormDo not use water wings or other pool toys as life jacketsMake sure you and your child know how deep the water isNo jumping in water less than nine feet deep; no diving unless the depth is 12 feet or moreNever chew gum or eat in the waterLearn CPR and keep a first aid kit, phone, and emergency numbers near the waterAll children older than 4 should complete a swimming classNo running, pushing, or dunkingRemove all toys from the water after swimmingUse extra caution when swimming in the oceanDo not let your child swim in riversIf you have a family pool, it is also important to:Make sure you can clearly see the pool from your houseHave a five-foot high fence surrounding the entire perimeter of the pool and make sure all handles and gates are child-proofInstall the pool cover according to the instructionsKeep all electrical items away from the poolStore pool chemicals according to the instructions and away from childrenThese safety tips, plus close adult supervision, are key to preventing swimming accidents this summer, says Barbara Gaines, MD, director of the Benedum Pediatric Trauma Program.“Parents need to supervise their children at all times or a day at the pool could end in tragedy,” Dr. Gaines says. “Remember, any container of water, from a bucket to a swimming pool, poses a potential risk to kids.”Put your family’s swimming safety knowledge to the test: take the Water Safety Quiz with your children."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2014","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"05","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/\/05\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Swimming Safety Tips for Parents & Kids","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/05\/swimming-safety-tips-parents-kids\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]