Water safety emphasized as warm weather draws near

DAYTON, Ohio ( WDTN ) — As the weather gets warmer, the time is near when more people will be heading out onto the water.

Over the last year, there have been several drowning reports in the Miami Valley. Understanding the dangers of drowning and the importance of water safety is critical.

According to the CDC, more children ages one to four die from drowning than any other cause of death in the U.S. The CDC says drowning happens in seconds and is often silent.

Statistics show that for children ages five to 14, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death after motor vehicle crashes.

Learning how to swim is the first place to start with water safety. However, even those who do know how to swim still need supervision. For those who are water-shy, avoid the deep end.

Experts say learning how to swim is not only vital for safety, but is key to a child’s development.

“We believe beginning swimming lessons at a young age is super important. We begin lessons as early as four months. Pediatricians will use the terminology in the past they used when they are ready. But we really think that they are ready at a young age, even under one year old. Get them exposed to it early, get them comfortable in the water right away,” said Andrew Strozier, Gold Fish Swim School Dayton owner.

Gold Fish Swim School also recommends teaching your children to recognize when it’s time to swim, and when it’s not.

The CDC recommends enclosing pools with a fence, learning CPR, and having children wear a lifejacket. Both the CDC and Gold Fish Swim School emphasize adult supervision at all times.

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