Water Safety

At Children of the Sound^SM we maintain that water safe skills come first above swimming skills. Our approach to teaching builds awareness, self-confidence and a healthy dose of respect for the water. With our proximity to the Long Island Sound, the numerous lakes and rivers in the area and many home and public pools - water safety skills are a GIFT FOR LIFE.

Drowning statistics

Drowning is the number two leading cause of accidental death in the U.S. among children 14 and under, and the leading cause of death of children age 5 and under.
American Institute of Preventive Medicine
A child can drown in the time it takes to answer the phone.
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Of all preschoolers who drown, 70% are missing from sight for five minutes or less.
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
For every child who drowns, four are hospitalized and 16 receive emergency department care for near drowning.
American Academy of Pediatrics
Of preschooler pool drownings, 65% occur in the child's home pool and 33% at the homes of friends, neighbors or relatives.
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Tips from the National Spa and Pool Institute

Supervision Tips:

Never take your eyes off a child when he or she is in or near water, even for a second.
Don't allow barriers, such as fences or walls, to give you a false sense of security. There is no substitute for constant supervision.
Keep all toys, tricycles, and other children's playthings out o the water and away from the pool or spa.
Don't consider your children to be "drown-proof" just because they've had swimming or "water orientation" lessons.
Don't rely on "water-wings" or other inflatable devices to keep your children afloat. They are not substitutes for constant supervision.

Barrier Tips: (pools don't go away in the off-season)

Make sure your pool or spa has effective barriers - such as fence, wall, locked door, cover or alarm - that guard against unsupervised access, particularly by young children.
Make sure doors and windows leading to the pool or spa area are kept closed and are never propped open, or are equipped with exit alarms. Gates should have self-closing, self-latching mechanisms. Latches should be out of reach of young children and kept in proper working order.
Your pool or spa should always have well-maintained barriers or "layers of safety."
Always drain standing water off the pool or spa cover.