Swim Safety with Supervision

For a child, waiting one more minute to go swimming can feel like a lifetime! One of my favorite summer activities as a kid was swimming in KOA pools on our family vacations. I loved KOA’s simply because I got to swim, but I was only allowed to swim if one of my parents was there. I was ready for the pool from the moment we drove into the campground, but we always had to set up our tent trailer and get chores out of the way before we were allowed to do anything else. It was torture, the waiting was so hard and I’m sure there were plenty of tears shed as a child because swimming couldn’t come soon enough😊

I was too young to care or fully understand, but reflecting on those days at the pool now seems a little odd. Sometimes, my parents were the only adults on the pool deck for kids who were my age- ranging from about 5-10 years old. I remember my parents commenting about supervising other kids and holding down the fort on the pool deck. This lack of adult supervision is a glaring issue, especially when we consider that drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death in the United States for children ages 1-4, and the third leading cause for children ages 5-14.

Consistent and uninterrupted supervision is essential to water safety, whether at home or in the community. It is one of the Five Layers of Protection and is perhaps the most immediate and effective way to prevent accidents. Consistent supervision means being within arm’s reach, fully engaged, and prepared to respond at a moment’s notice. It’s not just about being present; it’s about being aware, proactive, and dedicated to preventing potential risks. At home, this means staying close and engaged during bathtime or playing with buckets of water. In less controlled environments like community pools or lakes, the need for vigilant supervision becomes even more critical due to the increased risks and unpredictability. Ensuring there is always a responsible adult actively engaged and watching during water activities, whether it’s bathtubs, pools, lakes, or any other body of water—is essential for safeguarding against potential injuries and drowning.

By staying within reach and remaining engaged and attentive, caregivers can create a safer environment where water activities can be enjoyed without unnecessary risks. Stay tuned, in the upcoming week we will release a Water Safety Family Plan which includes education around wandering, what the drowning process looks like, the Five Layers of Protection, other prevention strategies, an environmental assessment (to identify individualized barriers and water safety concerns) and creating a family plan for emergencies. This will be located in our Stan store on Instagram @blendedaquatics or shop tab on our website www.blendedquatics.com. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or interest in consulting!

We believe inclusion matters. We believe anyone can make progress in and around the water with the right teaching strategies. We believe through education; more families can be included in water-based environments and will be more equipped to prevent drownings.