Fredericksburg Parent

www.FredericksburgParent.NET 9 3. Stop relying on "floaties" for safety Many parents believe that puddle jumpers or inflatable rings make their kids safe, but experts strongly disagree. "We do not recommend using these flotation devices at all," Pohanka said. "They place children in a 'drowning position'—head up, feet down—and give a false sense of confidence." She explained that this vertical posture is the exact opposite of the horizontal "swim" position a child needs to master. It creates a dangerous muscle memory, so if your child does enter the water without their device, they will instinctively try to stay vertical, which leads to immediate submersion. To combat this, Pohanka advocates for early self-rescue skills. At Otter-ly Safe, infants can enroll as soon as they have been sitting independently for two months (typically around 7 months old). As Pohanka puts it, early instruction isn't about learning strokes; it's about building the skills to find air and stay afloat until help arrives. EXPERT ADVICE: Flotation toys are for fun, not for safety. Build self-rescue skills early, so your child's first instinct is to float, not panic. 4. Stop treating water safety as a single-layer approach Water safety works best when it's treated like a series of safety nets. While we often rely on lifeguards, they shouldn't be your only layer of safety. "It is your responsibility to watch your children, as guards cannot be everywhere and see everything at once," Hoy said. In a crowded community pool, splashing and constant movement reduce visibility. Lifeguards scan the entire pool, but you only need to keep your eyes on your child. Hoy suggested parents explain pool rules rather than just reciting them. "Explaining the 'why' behind the rule makes it more mean- ingful and helps prevent injury," he said. However, safety shouldn't stop at the public pool gate. The veteran firefighter noted that many emergencies occur in everyday environments that are familiar to both parents and kids. "We respond to backyard pools, hotel pools, lakes, and even bathtubs," he explained. "We also see boating inci- dents where life jackets simply weren't used." Simple safeguards like gates and life jackets add another essential layer of protection, but they are not the first line of defense. You are. EXPERT ADVICE: Fences, lifeguards and life jackets are tools. Be the first line of defense. 5. Stop wearing pastel-colored swimsuits A modern safety tip gaining traction among experts is the "Neon Rule." Pohanka suggested that kids wear neon and high-contrast swimsuits, saving the blues and pastels for the sprinkler or splash pad. "In a pool, blue and light-colored suits act as camouflage," Pohanka said. "They vanish against the pool floor or blend into the reflections on the surface." Hoy said that many parents do not realize that the "most danger- ous areas are often around water features, such as slides and div- ing boards, due to a lack of visibility." In these high-activity zones, a child in neon orange or hot pink is much easier for a lifeguard or a parent to spot. EXPERT ADVICE: Dress your children to stand out. The Best Habit to Start: Assign a "Water Watcher" If there is one change that could make the biggest difference, experts agreed that parents should assign a water watcher. This removes the ambiguity of shared responsibility and ensures someone is always actively supervising. "Designate one adult as the dedicated watcher," the firefighter said. "No phone, no multitasking. Rotate every 15 to 20 min- utes, so the person stays fresh. You have to treat supervision as an active job, not something in the background. Brief lapses in supervision and the thought, 'I thought someone else was watch- ing' is the most common pattern we see." Ultimately, water safety is about active presence. When we put the phones away and stay within arm's reach, we aren't just being "life- guards" for our families. We get a front-row seat to every splash, every handstand and every summer memory in the making.

• Cover