Your children are sure to be begging you to bring them to the pool or the beach this summer as the call of the water is so strong, especially with the harsh sun beating down on you, that it is impossible to say no to them. Admit it, you want to swim in the cool waters too, right? But let’s go back to your kids. At their age, they may become overly enthusiastic with their desire to play in the water by their own, which can be dangerous especially when they are little. That said, if you want to protect your children from accidental drowning, teach them these swimming safety tips.

Never let them run

If you will be heading to a resort or private pool, teach your kids to avoid running as there will be plenty of puddles that they can slip on. Kids have the natural tendency to run around with excitement, so teach them about the dangers of doing that when you are out by the pool.

Pay active attention to children when they are near or in the water

It is your responsibility to ensure the safety of your children regardless of their age. If you are going to multitask, have someone else watch over the children while you work on something else. This way, you will be able to protect them from drowning or slipping.

Ensure a lifeguard is on duty

You should also teach your children that they can only play in the pool or the beach when there is a lifeguard on duty. Teaching the importance of a lifeguard may help them become aware of when it is good to be in the water or not. Of course, the lifeguard may be assisting others which means that there are other safety tips to consider.

Let them wear life jackets

Smaller children need to wear life jackets regardless of whether they are on a swimming pool or on the beach. This helps them to stay afloat while learning the art of swimming. If there is none available, you will be their life support, so you should always be with your kid at all times.

Apply sunscreen

Your children’s skin can burn easily as they still haven’t fully developed yet which is why you should let them wear sunscreen at all times. Sunscreen should be reapplied every few hours to ensure that they will not suffer from sunburn. The same thing should go with you as well.

Choose the depth of the pool

If you will be swimming in a pool, stick to an area where the depth is safe for your children. The more they stray away from the kiddie pool, the higher their risk of drowning goes. If you will be bringing them to your side of the pool, make sure that you are always by their side so they will not panic while learning how to swim.

Set up a buddy system

It is always a good idea to teach your children the importance of swimming alongside an experienced swimmer. Even adults can benefit from swimming with a partner to ensure both of your safety.

Let summer be a fun season for everyone regardless of how old or young they may be. For children, their safety should always be your priority from swimming in the pool or at the beach. You will be the one responsible for their well being so start their swimming lessons as soon as they are able to reduce their risk of getting into accidents when swimming.