With summer just around the corner in the Southern Hemisphere it is important to become aware of the dangers of water. It is imperative that we keep our children safe; they can drown easily in a few centimetres of water.
Children are drawn to water it is fun to play in but it can so quickly turn deadly and with little ones we have to be forever vigilant, children should never be left alone when around water.
If you are fortunate enough to have a swimming pool or spa at home then there are precautious that you can take to make it safer for your grandchildren. Pools should be fenced, in fact in New Zealand it is the law, you must fence your pool and have a gate that only adults can open. I would strongly urge the same if you have a spa pool.
Get your grandchild taught how to swim, it may save their lives. There are plenty of swimming schools, check your telephone book for details.
Remove any toys from the pool that may attract your young grandchild to try and retrieve it.
If your grandchild is swimming in your pool and there is no other adult available to supervise him/her and there are chores that you must get on with, remove him/her from the pool, they may yell but it is their safety that is paramount.
If there are open drains on or near your property, cover them up, or if it is on council land contact them immediately and let them know whereabouts the problem is they will attend to it.
Never allow your grandchild to swim alone.
If you take your grandchild out in a boat insist that they wear a life jacket, lead by example, you should also wear one you never know when the seas are going to get choppy.
Children can drown in very little water, so also supervise bath time, and never leave them in the bath alone or with another child. Pull the plug as soon as bath time has finished.
Always shut the toilet lid and close the bathroom door.
Don’t leave empty buckets outside; they can quickly fill with water.
At the beach always be with your grandchild never allow them to wander into the water without your being by their side.
Never, ever swim in rivers, they are so dangerous. What looks quiet and peaceful on top can in fact be deadly underneath, there can be submerged branches that your foot can get stuck in, there may be a very strong current that you are unaware of and your grandchild will quickly be swept away.
I am urging you to watch your grandchild near and in the water, you are the adult and it is up to you to keep them safe, water is so dangerous and so many people drown because of one careless lapse of concentration.
