Dangers of Toddlers Using Flotation Devices
Water Wings Can Give Children a False Sense of Secuity in Water
May 12, 2009
Water wings and flotation suits are favorite summer accessories for families who have small children who are unable to swim. These recreational flotation devices are designed keep a child's head above water, allowing the child be in the water without expending actually being able to swim or float on his own. While the children may be free to enjoy the water, parents should not use these devices as a crutch or an excuse to not learn infant and toddler survival swimming techniques.
Assisted Floating Gives Kids False Confidence
Young children have not yet mastered the concepts of cause and effect. Toddlers do not associate their "floaties" with water safety. An exuberant toddler who loves the water may take off and jump in without first putting on his safety gear or venture into water when parents or adult are not present. Unless he has self-rescue survival skills or an adult is present at the instant he enters the water, drowning is definite possibility.
Use of Flotation Devices Replaces the Urgency to Learning Critical Skills
Finding a qualified infant and toddler water survival instructor is not difficult, but the lesson process has been seen by many parents as being time consuming, emotional, and somewhat expensive. These factors make flotation devices economical and enable parents to easily justify not getting their child into a qualified water survival program. Unfortunately, it is these very skills that can save a child from a tragic and preventable death.
Drowning Happens Quietly and in Seconds
Parents are under the assumption that, if an accident occurs, there is time to respond. Children who do not know how to float do not naturally rise to the surface and have an opportunity call for help. Children sink to the bottom when they enter the water. There are no screams, no cries for help, just silence on the surface.
Chris Duffy of Tulsa, OK, and father to two young girls, recounts a story about his niece who had a near-drowning experience in a 12 May 2009 personal interview. According to Duffy, the little girl jumped in without her life jacket and "sank like a rock." Luckily Duffy was already in the water and saw everything unfold. "I still could not believe how fast she went down. It sure woke me up and my number one priority was survival swimming and education about the water. Even when you are paying attention and taking all the proper precautions a drowning tragedy can happen so fast." (Duffy, Chris. Personal Interview. 12 May 2009.)
Flotation devices are a quick and easy way to allow your kids to enjoy water activities with family and friends, but make sure that your child has underlying skills that can prevent a drowning or near-drowning experience. Accidents happen quickly, silently, and far too often. If a child can crawl, he can float unassisted if trained how to do so. Find a qualified infant or toddler water survival instructor to give your child a fighting chance in the water.
To find an infant or toddler swimming instructor, visit the Infant Swimming Resource website.
For more information on infant swimming, see Infant Swimming: Top of the Summer To Do List
 |
