Younger Children May Be Ready for Swimming Lessons

< May. 26, 2010 > -- Making a change from earlier guidelines, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) no longer recommends against swimming lessons for kids aged 1 to 3 years because there is new evidence that instruction may help some young children avoid drowning.

The new guidelines take into account the risks from popular inflatable pools and new evidence that safety instruction may be helpful for toddlers.

The AAP policy statement was released online this week and will be published in the July issue of the medical journal Pediatrics.

Drowning is the second leading cause of death for children aged 1 to 19 years, and about 1,100 children died of drowning in the United States in 2006. Toddlers and teen-aged boys are at highest risk.

After First Birthday, Children May be Ready

"Not every child will be ready to learn to swim at the same age," says Dr. Jeffrey Weiss, lead author of the policy statement. "Swimming lessons can be an important part of the overall protection, which should include pool barriers and constant, capable supervision."

The policy statement does not recommend water instruction for kids younger than 1 year of age.

Parents Must Supervise Their Children

"To protect their children, parents need to think about layers of protection," Dr. Weiss explains.

"Children need to learn to swim," he says. "But even advanced swimming skills cannot 'drown-proof' a child of any age. Parents must also closely supervise their children around water and know how to perform CPR. A four-sided fence around the pool is essential."

A fence separating a pool from the rest of the world - including the house - is estimated to cut the risk of drowning by half, say pediatrics experts.

But laws about pool fencing often do not apply to large inflatable pools that may require thousands of gallons of water. Federal officials counted 47 deaths of children related these pools from 2004-2006.

"Because some of these pools have soft sides, it is very easy for a child to lean over and fall headfirst into the water," Dr. Weiss says. "These pools pose a constant danger."

Dr. Weiss points out that while many parents are vigilant while watching their children around swimming pools, a moment of inattention on the part of distracted adults can lead to trouble. "It's not a lack of supervision, it's a lapse of supervision," he warns.

Always consult your child's physician for more information.

More About Drowning

It only takes one inch of water to drown a toddler. Knowing where your children, even older children, are at all times can help prevent them from drowning. According to the National SAFE KIDS Campaign, the majority of children who drown in swimming pools were last seen in the home, were missing from sight for less than five minutes, and were in the care of one or both parents at the time of the drowning.

More than half of all infant drownings (under age 1) occur in bathtubs. Supportive baby bathtub "rings" do not prevent drownings if the child is unsupervised. Water hazards in and around the home may include the following:

• buckets (especially 5-gallon size)
• diaper pails
• toilets
• ice chests with melted ice
• hot tubs, spas, and whirlpools
• ditches and post holes
• wells
• ponds and fountains

Small children can drown when they lean forward to look into a bucket or open the toilet. Because the head is the heaviest part of a small child, it is easy for him/her to fall over into a container. Containers filled with liquid often weigh more than the small child and will not tip over when the child falls in.

More than half of childhood drownings occur in swimming pools, either at the child's home or at a friend's, neighbor's, or relative's house. Pools are especially hazardous if:

• children swim unsupervised.
• the pool is not properly fenced in.
• there is no telephone with emergency numbers nearby.
• there is no rescue equipment near the pool.
• parents rely on personal flotation devices (PFDs) to keep their child safe.

When boating, sailing, and canoeing, children of all ages should wear US Coast Guard-approved personal flotation devices (PFDs) such as life jackets. In fact, many states require the use of PFDs on all boats at all times. According to the National SAFE KIDS Campaign, it is estimated that 85 percent of boating-related drownings can be prevented if people wear PFDs.

Children can drown during the winter by falling through thin ice. In addition, pools with winter covers that do not completely cover the pools pose a threat, because children can slip between the cover into the pool.

Always consult your child's physician for more information.