With the arrival of summer, the opening of the swimming pools and the stay on the beaches, the parents of the children are considering which option is safer for their little ones when it comes to getting into the water. According to the latest figures, a total of 107 people have died from drowning in aquatic spaces so far this year, which is 41 more than in the same period in 2021.
In addition to making necessary the existence of adequate training, as well as an increase in the number of lifeguards, it is necessary to reflect on individual responsibility.
First of all, it is essential that there is always an adult accompanying the children. Pediatricians warn of the need to monitor minors at all times while they are in the water or playing near it. They should never be in the water alone without supervision. Even if they know how to swim, anything can happen that prevents them from staying afloat and drowning.
In Spain, drowning is the second cause of accidental mortality, after traffic accidents, in children between 0 and 14 years of age.
The AEP points out that “water is an essential element in our lives and for most children this element is also a place to play sports and an important source of pleasure and fun”. They also warn that “drownings in children under 5 years of age occur mainly in private swimming pools or in private communities.
The danger in such young children lies in the fact that they are more independent than a baby, that is to say, they move with agility and therefore they can escape adult supervision, to which must be added the particularity that they do not recognize dangerous situations and that they still do not have dexterity inside the water in case of falling into it”.
There are many options that are sold in order to keep children afloat: sleeves, floats, vests, churros… But not all of them are safe or suitable for children.
The AEP reviews each one, noting that its use is not a substitute for close adult supervision (within arm’s reach):
When buying them, you have to make sure that they have been manufactured in the European Union (bearing the CE mark), and preferably in specialized stores.
And, above all, be very clear that the safest place for a child who cannot swim is in the arms of an adult.
