Water safety is a big issue in my family. It’s always been important, but last year we really got a chance to see just how important it is. You see, my oldest son almost drowned in a boating accident last year. He survived only because he was wearing a life jacket. We were out boating when my husband and son jumped into the lake for a quick swim. The waves picked up so I went to turn the boat around to go pick them up – but the boat wouldn’t start. The starter on the boat had gone bad. Within minutes, I watched as my husband and son floated so far out in the water that I could no longer see them.
They were in the water for well over an hour before the coast guard found them and by then, my son’s body temperature was so low that he had to be rushed by ambulance to the nearest hospital – all while I was still stranded on the lake watching the ambulance drive away. I was told later that if his body temperature had gone down another 5 degrees or so, he wouldn’t have survived. The fact that they both had life jackets on is the only thing that kept them alive in rough waters long enough to be rescued.
It was a scary experience and it still gives me nightmares. Today, I’m signing up my two oldest children for swimming lessons so they can be as prepared as possible for an emergency in the water.
It’s one thing, however, for me to understand water safety. It’s another thing entirely to make sure my kids understand. My son won’t go near water without his life jacket now but there are many other aspects of water safety that all children need to be reminded of. Disney and Underwriters Laboratories have put out a great video about water safety that is designed with kids in mind. It features Pumbaa and Timon from The Lion King and talks about water safety in a way that is entertaining and easy for kids to understand.
I’d highly recommend watching the Safety Smarts video with your kids and talking about the basics of water safety before we get too deeply into summer. All three of my kids sat and watched the video all the way through. My kids are really good about trying to do whatever they need to do to stay safe. If I arm them with a little bit of information they definitely remember it.
“I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Underwriters Laboratories. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.”
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Wow, how scary! But Im glad that everything worked out for you. I just heard a story about an athlete’s son who found his way to their familys hot tub and drowned. Its scary, and we have to be more vigilant with our kids and the water and take the necessary precautions to keep them safe.
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What a frightening experience! The Safety Smarts video is a great recommendation – thanks for the info!
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It was absolutely terrifying. I’m trying really hard not to let it turn me into a paranoid parent because I don’t want my kids to learn to be afraid but it’s hard some days.
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My oldest just finished swimming lessons. After his second try, he finally passed level 1!
Visiting from MomDot comment night 🙂
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OMG! How scary! We just put my two year old in swim lessons for this very reason. She’s not really liking the lessons and cries most of the time, but I know it’s what’s best for her! Thank You for sharing your experience to inspire others to take that extra step to keep kids safe!
We have a boat and we have 2 small children. They always wear their life jackets but I’m so scared something will happen to them. A few years back I heard about a little girl being tossed out of the boat as they went over a big wake and she was killed by the prob. I can’t forget about that so I always hold my girls when we go over even little wakes.
I’m so glad your son and your husband are OK. That’s pretty scary and I don’t know if I would go back on the boat after that.
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What a horrible experience! I’m so glad everything worked out okay. I have a friend whose brother died around age 12 while rafting with the family. Water is beautiful and enjoyable but is definitely a force to be reckoned with. Water safety is vital – not optional.
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