VER COMPETENCIA EN AGUA EN ESPAÑOL
Water Competency
Water Competency & the Skills to Survive
Learn to enhance your water safety skills to help reduce the risk of drowning for yourself and for those around you.
VER COMPETENCIA EN AGUA EN ESPAÑOL
Learn to enhance your water safety skills to help reduce the risk of drowning for yourself and for those around you.
Swimming is not an instinctive skill for humans. We cannot survive in water unless we are taught basic skills. All adults and children should learn these crucial skills as soon as possible. All caretakers must understand that children are never considered “drown proof,” even if they have undergone swim lessons. Nothing will ever eliminate the risk of drowning, but learning to swim equips children with a life-saving layer of protection.
Speak with your pediatrician before considering any water safety/swimming lessons for children. The AAP recommends starting swim lessons as early as age 1. By taking formal swimming lessons, children ages 1-4 can reduce their drowning risk by 88%. Water competency and swim lessons should be continuous, and not taken for just one season – skills need to be developed and maintained during the entire year.
Look for swim programs that have experienced, certified, and qualified instructors. Learn to swim programs should teach safety in, on, and around the water and teach students what to do if they end up in the water unexpectedly. Ensure that the program maintains accepted water quality, keeps the water warm, and has a safety plan in place. Use our Swim Program Checklist when visiting a program to help you find the right swim program for your family.
Barriers & Alarms It's important to use four-sided fencing with self-closing, self-latching gates, pool safety covers, and alarm systems, to help prevent children and unauthorized adults from accessing water unsupervised.
Learn MoreSupervisionStay vigilant and aware of your surroundings with close, constant, and capable adult supervision from a designated water watcher or lifeguard anytime children are in or around water.
Learn MoreWater CompetencyEvery child and adult should be equipped with the skills to protect themselves in water by learning and enhancing their basic water safety skills to reduce the risk of drowning and aquatic-related injuries.
Learn MoreLife JacketsWhen used appropriately, life jackets protect you when you are not expecting to be in the water, especially around open water. Ensure your life jackets are tested & approved by the USCG.
Learn MoreEmergency PreparationKnowing how to prepare for an emergency with CPR training with rescue breaths and basic water rescue skills can make the difference between life and death. Have a phone available and ready to call 911.
Learn MoreLayers of ProtectionWater safety isn’t just during swim time. Each layer should be used together when in or around water to help reduce the risk of drowning. You never know which layer will save a life.
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