Kids are curious by nature and eager to discover and explore new frontiers. When they see water, they’re usually very exited to get in and play. However, drowning poses a real threat to small children, so you should be very careful not to leave them unsupervised. 

Keeping your kids away from water as much as possible is also not an option. Parents and guardians in San Diego can try out a number of facilities to see if they offer infant swim lessons. Read on to learn how to keep your kids safe while they’re having fun in the water. 

How to keep kids safe in and around water?

There are a couple of principles you should stick to when you take your kids to a pool or to the beach, to keep everyone safe and the day enjoyable. 

Keep kids constantly supervised

First and foremost, make sure that you are constantly monitoring what’s going on. Adult supervision is vital and there’s no way to replace it. What puts children at risk isn’t a lack, but a lapse in parental attention. Also, make sure to limit the intervals in the water to a maximum of 10 – 15 minutes. In the case of any accident, be prepared: recognize signs of drowning, react immediately, and make sure to perform CPR. 

Fence off the swimming area

Small kids are eager to run around and can easily slip and fall into water. It’s only natural that they would like to explore everything that catches their attention. Of course, you can teach them good manners and try to explain some ideas about safety, but it’s best to have a physical barrier between the playground and the pool (or another swimming area). 

When not in use, cover the pools and hot tubs, to prevent smaller children stumbling into them. 

Life jackets

Regardless of the level of skill and whether they’re swimming or not, make sure that all kids wear life jackets around the pool. Jackets will make them visible to lifeguards and will help them float if they fall into the pool by accident.

Mind the toys and floating devices

Remove all toys from the pool area when you’re not using it. Keep all toys that don’t belong in the area away from it, especially if they have wheels. Floating devices and inflatable toys can be of some help, but are not a substitute for your supervision, so remain vigilant. 

Check the drains 

Whether you have a pool in your backyard or you’re visiting an outdoor or indoor pool in a resort or a fitness center, you need to make sure where the drains are and inspect if they are safe. Drains can easily suck in their legs, hands or hair, and this can lead to drowning. 

Teach them swimming

While it’s true that babies are natural swimmers, until about 6 months of age, this isn’t the case for older children. This natural reflex of diving and swimming somehow expires and we need to learn it as we grow. It’s best that you start teaching your kids swimming at an early age. 

Firstly, you should teach them how to tread water. Knowing how to keep their head above water is a basic survival skill you shouldn’t skip. Then, teach them correct swimming techniques. This will keep them away from danger and enhance their endurance in water. 

Safe diving

Teach kids how to enter the water correctly, whether by diving in carefully, using the ladder or steps. Besides the basic swimming etiquette, this will also keep them safe from injuries and drowning, as well as potentially hitting others who are already in the pool. Another important point is making sure that the pool area is just the right depth. If it’s too shallow or too deep for your kid, move to another area.

 Where in San Diego and the vicinity can I find useful infant swim lessons?

Starting as soon as your child is ready is crucial for adding another layer of safety in the water. This is where The Plunge steps in. We have operated in San Diego for over nine decades, with our luxurious facility located just a couple of miles away from Linda Vista. We offer many features for people of all ages. Here you’ll find an environment where toddlers can learn how to swim, in an 8-level course, so feel free to bring your little ones to make their first splash in our swimming pool. 

Besides an indoor pool, we offer other amenities as well: a well-equipped gym, hot tubs and saunas, daycare program, opportunities for birthday parties, corporate events and many more. Our staff will be happy to help you out and inform you about all the options available. 

Call us today or pay us a visit to see what we can offer.