Summer Safety with Prevention & Outreach

Let's start our conversation with water safety, because for many families, summer means pools, beaches, lakes, and splash pads, especially living where we do.

Yes, and water safety is one of the most important topics we can discuss during the summer months.

Drowning can happen quickly and quietly, and often in situations where adults assume someone else is watching.

May is National Water Safety Month.

One of the biggest things to encourage is preventing unsupervised access to water.

This means making sure pools are fenced, gates are secured, and children are never near water without an adult actively supervising.

And that active supervision is key.

Sometimes adults are technically nearby but distracted by phones, conversations, cooking, or multitasking.

Adults, especially for younger children, need to be close enough that they can reach them quickly if needed.

Another great strategy is assigning a designated water watcher who's not on their phone or reading a book.

If you're at a pool party or a beach day with multiple adults, it's easy to assume someone else is paying attention.

Hello, bystander effect.

Having one person specifically responsible for watching the water helps eliminate that confusion and makes sure that other adults can relax between watching shifts.

That's absolutely right.

The water watcher's only job in that moment is watching the children in the water.

Then you can rotate that responsibility throughout the day.

And swim lessons are another really important tool, and we have so many options for them in our area, like at the YMCA.

Swim lessons can build confidence and teach life-saving skills.

Every child learns at a different pace, but becoming comfortable in the water is so valuable.

And until children are confident swimmers, approved flotation devices or life jackets are really important.

Not all floaties are created equal, so choosing Coast Guard approved life jackets is best.

And definitely don't feel pressure to let your child move quicker in the water than you or they feel ready for just because other kids are doing it.

It's okay for children to stay in shallow water or wear flotation devices longer or take breaks if they're nervous.

Water safety isn't about rushing independence, it's about building skills and feeling safe.

For families here near the coast that frequent Folly, Sullivan's, Isle of Palms, and Kiawah, or if you're doing a beach trip this summer, rip currents are another important topic.