Family Fun: How to Keep Your Kids Safe in the Water

by Jane Warren on June 5th, 2012 | 3 Comments »

If your family is like mine, when summer arrives, it’s time to get out on the water! We don’t care if it’s the lake or ocean—we are just ready to get out feet wet, literally. There are lots of things to do when you go to the lake or beach. You can choose from activities like boating, water skiing, tubing, kayaking, or paddleboarding. Or you can just relax on the dock or by the shore and enjoy watching others around you.

Whatever you choose, it’s good to be aware of any rules and regulations in the area and basic water safety tips, such as the ones listed below:

Water Safety Tips

Know How To Swim

This is so important for everybody who likes to be around water. It’s great exercise, and something the whole family can do together. You still need to watch your kids, but can rest a little easier knowing that they know how to swim. If you need to learn, your local community centers or Red Cross will offer swimming lessons.

Always Wear a Life Jacket

If you are water skiing, wakeboarding, or riding on a towable boat tube, you should always wear a life jacket, even if you know how to swim. There is always a chance of falling, and wearing a personal flotation device will keep you on the surface of the water until the boat comes back around. If you or your family members don’t know how to swim, then wear some type of flotation device whenever you are in the water.

Wear Sunscreen and Sunglasses

It’s great to be outside and get some vitamin D, but you should always have sunscreen when you are around water. The sun’s rays intensify around water, so be sure to wear sunscreen with a strong SPF. Also reapply after being in the water, and seek some shade during the hottest times of the day. Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes and to help you see better in the glare of the sun.

Supervise Your Children

I can’t say this enough—always know where your kids are when they are around water. Usually they are having so much fun, they are totally unaware of any potential dangers like currents, tides, water depth, obstacles in the water, and even how long they have been out playing.

Avoid Drinking Alcohol

We need to stay hydrated when we are outside, but alcohol is not a good choice when we are at the beach or lake. It can impact our judgment, and slow our responses to any dangerous situations. So be healthy and safe, and drink lots of water instead!

Plan to enjoy being outside this summer, enjoying recreational water activities whenever you can. It’s a great way to spend time with the family; you’ll come away with great memories!

How do you keep your kids safe while enjoying the water?

Jane Warren enjoys recreational water sports such as boating, swimming and scuba diving. Based on her own experience with water safety, she also writes about safety in water sports.