Water safety is very important for children

Our county’s beautiful beaches enable families to enjoy boating, swimming, fishing, water-skiing, and many other forms of water recreation. Summertime usually involves even higher levels of water recreation, and can be a source of great family fun.

Unfortunately, it can also be dangerous, especially for children. That’s why it’s important to teach all children how to be safe in and around the water. The boating and water safety lessons children learn at an early age can protect them throughout their lives.

First, have your children learn to swim. But they should never swim alone — they should always use the buddy system. They should also know the items that can be used to help save someone in trouble — a rope, oar, branch, or life preserver.

They should only swim where there is a lifeguard on duty, and always obey signs that say “danger,” “keep out,” or “private property.” When on a boat, they should always wear a life jacket and stay seated.

To fit a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) properly on a child, it is important not to buy one that is too large, with the expectation that the child will grow into it. If it is too large, it will not work as well now, while the child is small and needs it the most.

For a newborn less than 30 pounds, it is recommended that the size be 16 to 20 inches in circumference. A toddler of 30 to 50 pounds, usually aged 2 to 5, should wear one 20 to 23 inches in circumference. A medium-sized child, of 4 to 8 years, should wear one 23 to 25 inches in circumference, and a youth up to 90 pounds or 12 years should wear one 26 to 29 inches around.

Make sure your children know that if they enter the water by accident, they should always stay with the boat, even if they have to hang on to the side.

And remember — safe boating is fun boating.