Water Safety--(12-24mon.baby)

What are the hazards for our child of being around water?

Water is hazardous for young children. In fact, as much fun as water can be, it's dangerous no matter where you find it — in a bucket, bowl, toilet, tub, sink, puddle, pool, or elsewhere. Parents can avoid tragedy by taking this adage to heart: A young child can drown in less than an inch of water.

The best way to protect your toddler from accidental drowning is to remove even the smallest source of water from her play area, and if water is present, to not take your eyes off her for a minute. If you're at a pool or beach, it's fine to let her splash and play to her heart's content — as long as you're right there with her and watching her every move.

What about water safety in the bathtub?
There are several things to remember when bathing your child, but the most important is to never leave her unattended in a bathtub, even for a minute. If you need to leave the bathroom for any reason, wrap your child in a towel and take her with you.

• Cover the tub surface with a rubber suction mat to prevent slipping and only fill the tub with 3 to 4 inches of warm water.

• Don't allow your child to drink the bath water or submerge her eyes and head. The soap and shampoo can irritate her intestinal tract and her eyes.

• Keep the toilet lid and bathroom door closed when not in use, or get a lid lock for the toilet.

How can I keep my toddler safe at a pool, lake, or beach?
Here are a few key safety tips:

• Pool drains were named one of the top five hidden home hazards by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in 2007. The suction from a pool drain can be strong enough to hold even an adult underwater, pulling on the hair or on the body and forming a seal. Missing covers often cause the problem.

• Check the water to make sure it's warm enough — preferably between 84 and 87 degrees.

• Make sure you've taken a child CPR course.

• Stick to pools that are properly chlorinated and natural bodies of water that are unpolluted and safe for wading.

• If you have a plastic wading pool, drain it and store it in an upright position (so it won't collect rainwater) after each use. If you have a permanent pool, make sure it's enclosed with a fence that's at least 4 feet high, and lock the gate leading to the pool after each use. After swimming, remove any toys from the water and deck so your child doesn't go after them.

• If possible, pick a pool, lake, or beach equipped with rescue equipment and staffed with a lifeguard. Make sure to have a cell phone on hand in case of emergency.

When can my child start taking swimming lessons?
There are many swim and water safety classes for young children offered nationwide, but that doesn't mean it's a good idea to enroll your child in one yet. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, swim classes for children shouldn't be started until age 3 because swim classes seem to make both children and their parents overconfident. That doesn't mean you and your toddler can't enjoy the water, it's just a bit early to enroll her in lessons.

As soon as you start bringing your child into the water, begin conveying simple water safety rules such as: Don't go near water without an adult, always swim with a buddy, don't run on the pool deck or boat dock, and jump in feet first. Even children who aren't yet talking understand a great deal. One day your child will surprise you by repeating an oft-heard safety phrase, and by the time she's old enough to take lessons, she'll be familiar with the basics of water safety.

What should I do if my child slips under the surface in a tub, pool, or other body of water?
If she slips under water for a moment during bath time or while playing in the pool, it's likely she'll come up coughing and sputtering. If she's been under water for longer, you'll need to move calmly and quickly. Follow these steps:

• Lift your child out of the water.

• Carry her with her head lower than her chest.

• Remove any wet clothing and wrap her in a dry, warm towel or blanket.

• Call 911 or your local rescue squad or bring your child to the nearest emergency room immediately. (Even if she appears fully recovered, she may have inhaled water, which could cause lung damage.)

• If she's unconscious, see whether she's breathing and whether she has a pulse. If she's not breathing, open her airway and begin mouth-to-mouth and nose resuscitation. If she has no pulse or breathing, begin child CPR.

Although chances are you'll never need to do CPR on your child, it's wise to learn the method, just in case. For more information, see our illustrated guide to first aid for choking and CPR.

source from http://www.babycenter.com/