Occupational Therapist Offers Water Safety Tips for Kids

As families head outdoors for summer fun and spend more time at pools and beaches, a West Virginia University expert in occupational therapy says precautions — like teaching children age-appropriate water safety measures and dressing them in brightly colored, form-fitting swimwear — can save lives.

Drowning is a leading pediatric cause of death, according to Breanna Adkins, assistant professor in the WVU School of Medicine, who added that children with disabilities such as autism have 160 times the risk of drowning compared to children without disabilities.

Quotes:

“When teaching your child to swim, start slow and keep it fun and low stakes. Never force a child into the water. 

“Using social stories can be an excellent way to educate your child about appropriate behaviors for enjoying the water safely. An example would be to create a story featuring your child’s favorite character, such as Spider-Man, and how Spider-Man always takes an adult with him to the pool or creek. 

“Sometimes children struggle with being in the water or having water on their face or head, but you can expose your child to water in a fun and easy way, such as ‘painting’ with water on the sidewalk, or playing in a water table or splash tub.

“For younger children or those with developmental delays, alarms on doors and gates that alert you when they’re opened can help prevent wandering behaviors and ensure children are never alone near pools.  +

(Newswise/MN)