Water Safety and Teens

Although older youth are more likely to know how to swim, they are still at risk for drowning. Teens rank second highest of any age group in terms of the fatal drowning rate. Only toddlers have a higher rate. This is because of an overestimation of their skills, lack of awareness of water currents or water depth, peer pressure, and drinking alcohol or using drugs. To protect your teen from drowning, the American Academy of Pediatrics offers these tips:

• Insist that your teens always swim with a buddy.

• Encourage your teen to take swimming, diving, and water safety or rescue classes to learn the skills to swim and dive safely. These classes may also prevent your teen from acting recklessly.

• Teach your teen to never swim or dive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

• Make sure your teen checks the depth of the water before diving.

• Teach your teen that when entering the water for the first time, always do so feet first.

Diving accidents can result in permanent spinal cord injuries, brain damage, and death. Diving accidents may happen when a person:

• Dives into shallow water.

• Dives into above-ground pools, which are often shallow.

• Dives into the shallow end of a pool.

• Springs upward from the diving board and hits the board on the way down.

On boats, PFDs should be U.S. Coast Guard-approved. In fact, many states require the use of PFDs on all boats at all times. Don't rely on blow-up swimming devices, such as "water wings," rafts, and toys. They aren't safe and won't prevent drowning.

It is important that the PFD is the correct size for your teen (life jackets are usually labeled "adult" or "child"). However, PFDs don't replace adult supervision.

Statistics show that most of the people who died in boating-related drownings were not wearing any kind of floatation device.