100 HAWAII PARENT March/April 2024 length away from children in the water. One of the biggest gifts a parent can give their child is early swim lessons. Caregivers of children who have had swimming lessons may be less cautious, thinking that the children are safe because they can swim. Swimming lessons are valuable and teach children a crucial life skill, but there is no substitute for proximity and vigilance in order to prevent drowning. Other effective strategies to help prevent drowning include using coastguard-approved flotation devices. Parents and childcare providers should take a CPR class to know what to do in the event of an emergency. 3. Drowning Drowning is the number one cause of death in children between the ages of 1 and 4 years old. The ocean has an unquestionable allure, but all water – including pools and even bathtubs – can be dangerous to children who are improperly supervised. When children are playing in water, caregivers have to stay close to their children. The AAP states that poolside supervision is not enough to ensure a child’s safety because a submerged child can drown quietly without a caregiver noticing. AAP drowning prevention guidelines recommend caregivers of children under the age of four to remain no more than an arm’s “One of the biggest gifts a parent can give their child is early swim lessons.” Swimming lessons are valuable, but there is no substitute for proximity and vigilance to prevent drowning.
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