07/08/2023
12 Water Safety Vacation Tips for Adults w/ Kids
Are you headed out on a much needed vacation? Considering a local staycation? Traveling with kids is always an adventure and we wanted to share a few tips and reminders to keep you safe and smart around the water before you embark on your trip.
1. Don’t Trust Their Barriers - So often we see gates, doors, fences that are not working (self latching and self closing) or they have been propped open by another guest. Operate under the mindset that their barrier doesn’t worker isn’t there. We see so often in drowning events, that these barriers were trusted to restrict access and something failed.
2. Be Mindful of Decorative / Informal Water - Many resorts and hotels have decorative water that kids are naturally drawn towards. Be alert for any fountains, fish ponds, or other water features that are meant to be a decorative feature.
3. BYOL + Mind the Gaps - Bring your own lifejacket. Lifejackets are a great layer of protection especially in vacation type environments. Not all resorts or hotels have lifejackets available, so we always recommend to bring your own. One you know fits your child properly, is comfortable for them, and is tested to keep them in the right position. We also recommend you “mind the gaps” of lifejacket use, meaning be aware and very intentional if it is removed for any reason (eating / using the bathroom), or even if you arrive to the water area and haven’t put the lifejacket on yet. These are all “gaps” in lifejacket usage and can be dangerous times. Put the lifejacket on before your arrive to the pool or water area and don’t take it off until you have left.
4. Be Aware of Access points - Know the access points of your room or house you are staying at. Does the backyard pool have a fence or a dog door? Does the hotel room walk out to a patio and the ocean or pond is quick access. Consider bringing easy to install door and window alarms that can be purchased online if you are concerned about blocking access points.
5. Relax or Supervise - Not Both - Seriously, this is so important. You can’t read a magazine and supervise and be an effective water watcher. Designate specific times for you to be a water watcher and other times for you to relax. My husband and I would rotate responsibilities, so I could feel good about sitting on a lounge chair and reading my book without interruption. You deserve to be able to relax on your vacation and your kids also deserve effective supervision. We call this singularity of purpose in the water safety world. One thing at a time. Also, important to note that while you are supervising children make sure you are in a good frame of mind and positioning to do so. No drugs or alcohol and at the edge of the pool with clear line of sight. I always try to keep a lifejacket near my feet too, in case I need to grab it and enter the water.
6. Clear Transfer of Care - We hear often post event that “mom thought dad was watching” and “dad thought mom was watching” or “grandma assumed mom was with the child” while “mom thought grandma was paying attention”. For safety we need clear transfer of care and responsibility. No questions or assumptions about who is supervising and who is not supervising. It is so easy to assume…and it can get us into lots of trouble.
7. Safety Briefings / Safety Breaks - Have a pre-meeting before you start your water fun. Outline expectations for your kids (lather them up with sunscreen and have them drink water) and discuss where they can play, how they should behave, ask if they see anything unsafe, discuss the depth of the water and anything else that is important. Read the signs, watch the activities taking place, and remind kids of the buddy system and if they “see something, to say something”. They are an important part of water safety too! Designate specific break times for rest (both for you and them) and rehydration.
8. Pack Mindset - We all stick together. If one of us has to use the restroom, we all go to the restroom. If one of us has to go back to the room, we all go back together….a pack mindset. Drownings have a sneaky way of happening during times when we are trying to manage it all. Outline the pack mindset expectation from the beginning and stick to it.
9. Water Clarity + Lighting - Make sure the water has good clarity, meaning you can see the deepest bottom drain grate. If the water is cloudy, or the area is not well lit…don’t go in. This is something we check in our initial safety briefing, but should be constantly monitored as conditions and time of day changes.
10. Bright + Contrasting Swim Wear - Think bright colors for your children’s swim wear. I love the neon pinks, oranges and greens. I want something that is going to pop and stick out underwater and that will contrast with the pool bottom color or against the water coloring. If you have multiple children consider placing them in the same color. Avoid white or light pastel colors as they disappear quickly underwater.
11. Know the Address + How to Get Help - Make sure you have the address to the facility handy and access to call 911 (or the country equivalent) quickly. In an emergency, you will want to make sure there are no delays in getting help to your location.
12. Feet First Entries - Whether you are at a beach or a pool - no diving. Always enter feet first. The ocean and lakes can be dynamic environments with changing depths or newly formed sandbars, and pools can have unmarked slopes or features underwater. Protect your head to avoid head, neck, and spinal injuries by always entering feet first!
If you are blessed to be going on a vacation or a staycation we wish you a safe trip filled with amazing memories!
Stay safe! Stay smart!
💙, ALIVE Solutions
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