Drowning Prevention: Touch Supervision of Early Swimmers
Water safety reminder: Early swimmers need touch supervision, meaning an arm’s distance away at most from a supervising adult whose full attention is on them, in any body of water.
Yesterday, I was at a friend’s backyard pool with my kids; my three year old fully believes he can swim but cannot. I messed up – I was watching him playing on the steps of the pool where he could touch and sitting on the side about 15 feet away eating my sandwich. He accidentally slipped off the step. In the few seconds I was heading towards him (like an idiot running around the outside of the pool and walking down the steps - not the fastest route), this incredible mom next to me had already jumped in the pool and lifted him back onto his step. My son was fine and went right back to playing. Not even a cough or a tear, but it was a reminder for me that there are no exceptions to this rule – early swimmers need touch supervision at all times in any body of water.
Who is an early swimmer? This is anyone who can’t do all of these things: get in and out of the pool completely assisted, swim 25 meters easily and without touching the bottom or grabbing on, and tread water for at least 30-60 seconds. Full AAP policy statement on drowning prevention below.
