Winter Water Safety Tips for New Jersey Families

During the winter months, water safety is not a topic that is frequently on parents’ minds. However, the reality is, freezing temperatures pose a great deal of water-related safety risks for young children. Drowning is the number one cause of accidental death for kids under age five. This is important information for every family with young kids.

These five tips from Renee Camporeale, General Manager of Goldfish Swim School of Wyckoff will help families keep their kids safer around water during the cold weather months.

1. Stay off of Unfamiliar Ice. Unless a lake or pond has been designated for skating and is certified for thickness and safety, simply stay off of the ice. Never walk on rivers or retention ponds, and remember that ice thickness can change on different parts of the water, and can be affected by conditions over night.

2. Have an Emergency Plan. Practice what to do if someone falls through ice. Teach children not to panic if they fall through the ice. Slow, calm movement helps retain body heat, which is critical as the body loses heat more than 30 times faster in cold water than cold air. Call paramedics right away even if the child appears OK. Learn infant and child CPR. Keep rescue equipment, a phone and emergency numbers nearby.

3. Ensure Adult Supervision is ALWAYS Present. Children shouldn’t play outside alone. A drowning child usually cannot cry or shout for help, so never turn your back on your child around water, including ice. Assign a designated watcher so there are never questions about which adult is responsible for watching the child. Also, establish a buddy system with one or more friends and have them look out for one another.

4. Make Swim Lessons a Priority. As young as four months old (or when they establish head and neck control), enroll children in swim lessons. Teach children water acclimation and aquatic survival skills designed to help them survive should they reach the water alone.

5. Have These Important Conversations with Caretakers and Kids. If your child goes to a friend’s house to play, ask the adult what kinds of activities they will engage in, and specifically, if they will be around water/ice, and make sure the children are supervised. When traveling to relatives’ and friends’ homes, they may not understand the importance of keeping gates closed, doors locked, etc. Start a conversation with your kids about water safety and share tips with them about what to do if they fall into water.