The American Academy of Pediatrics revised their policy on swimming lessons, saying they could prevent drowning in the 1-4 age group. They also warn of new swimming dangers. A swim instructor talks about a toddler program available in Oklahoma.
Just in time for the weekend’s unofficial start to summer, the American Academy of Pediatrics has updated its policy on swimming lessons for young children and also has issued a new warning about swimming pool dangers.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning continues to be the second-leading cause of injury-related death among children younger than 15 and is the leading cause of death for infants and young children in 18 states. Children younger than 5 have the highest drowning rate, and of all preschoolers who drown, 70 percent are in the care of one or both parents at the time of drowning.
While it has historically discouraged any type of formal swim instruction for toddlers, the academy says new evidence shows that children ages 1 to 4 may be less likely to drown if they have formal swimming instruction.
“Not every child will be ready to learn swimming at the same age,” Dr. Jeffrey Weiss, lead author of the academy’s updated policy, said in a news release. “Swimming lessons can be an important part of the overall protection, which should include pool barriers and constant, capable supervision.”
In the past, the academy has stated lessons for 1- to 4-year-olds may give parents a false sense of security. But the group now has relaxed that stance, saying children as young as 1 can be enrolled in formal swim instruction.
Marcy Toler, certified swimming instructor with Infant Swimming Resource (also known as ISR) agrees with the updated policy.
“This statement is a vital step towards keeping children safe both in and around the water,” Toler said. “To a child age 1 to 4, the world has no limits. We need to add layers of protection to keep our children safe.”
One of those layers, Toler says, is survival swim lessons. ISR, a national program which currently has seven instructors in Oklahoma, focuses on teaching self-rescue skills to children from 6 months to 6 years old. Unlike traditional swim lessons, ISR teaches children how to survive in the water, should they fall in or otherwise find themselves in the water alone.
ISR uses methods that incorporate a roll-back-and-float sequence for babies and a swim-float-swim sequence for toddlers. Once skilled, children practice these techniques fully clothed.
“ISR has learned that when children reach certain developmental milestones, such as learning to sit, crawl or walk, that they are developmentally ready to learn (the techniques),” Toler said.
While the academy supports swim instruction, it also recommends parents make a decision to enroll toddlers in formal lessons based on the child’s emotional development, physical abilities and any health concerns. Parents also are urged to consider how frequently the child is exposed to water.
“We recommend that parents find a local program and fully investigate a survival swimming program that is right for their child,” Toler said.
And while all pools can pose a threat to children, the academy has issued a new warning regarding the large, inflatable pools that sit above ground. These “portable” pools contain thousands of gallons of water and some may even have filtration equipment.
But many go unfenced because fencing laws often don’t refer to these types of pools.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, there were 47 reported deaths of children from 2004 to 2006 related to these large inflatable pools.
“Because some of these pools have soft sides, it is very easy for a child to lean over and fall headfirst into the water,” Weiss said. “These pools pose a constant danger.”
But for any type of pool or opportunity for a child to become exposed to water, experts agree that constant supervision is the key to drowning prevention.
“Even if a child has completed swim lessons, parents must understand that no child is drown-proof,” Toler said.
“There is no replacement for active and effective parental supervision.”
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