Many young children are lost to drowning every year. As the weather warms up and we start heading out to the pools and beaches, it’s important to emphasize supervision and swim safety.
There are many layers of protection that can prevent drowning deaths:
• Supervision: a parent or guardian should always be actively watching children when they are in or around water. This means do not get distracted by your phone or a book. Keep a watchful eye on them at all times. Read our blog on how drowning is silent.
• Barriers: A child should never enter a pool area or beach area unaccompanied by an adult. Barriers physically block a child from the pool. These barriers include: child-proof locks, a pool fence with self-latching and self-closing gates.
• Swimming Lessons: It’s extremely important to teach your children how to swim at a young age. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children ages 4 and older learn to swim in order to help prevent drowning.
• Emergency Preparedness: The moment a child stops breathing there is a small window of time in which resuscitation may occur. Know what to do if you are ever in this situation. Take a CPR class and learn the techniques necessary to save a life.
Get more safe water tips for the summer.
Mr. Finkelstein is the Managing Partner of Finkelstein & Partners, LLP. He has become a noted consumer activist through his representation of injured individuals against corporate wrongdoers and irresponsible parties.
An accomplished litigator, Mr. Finkelstein has represented Plaintiffs in wrongful death and catastrophic personal injury cases. He has successfully handled dozens of multi-million dollar cases.