Water safety is for teens, too
- scarver5
- 5 days ago
- 1 min read
When you think of water safety, you probably think about preventing toddlers from falling into pools. While drownings are the leading cause of accidental deaths in that age group, the risk peaks again for teens ages 15 to 19.
Teens may be more likely to underestimate risks and overestimate their swimming skills. They are also more likely to drown in natural bodies of water such as rivers, lakes and oceans, so extra caution is needed in these environments. Of course, alcohol and water play are never a good combination. Alcohol use is a contributing factor in 30% to 70% of water deaths in this age group.
Adult supervision is still strongly recommended. However, if teens do venture out by themselves, encourage them to use a buddy system, to take responsibility for each other’s safety and to never swim alone. Remind them that drownings can occur even for strong swimmers and that many drownings happen quietly and quickly. It is also a great idea for your teen to take a CPR class and learn what to do in case of a water emergency.
Even if your teen rolls their eyes because they’ve been swimming a “million times,” continue to review water safety with them regularly. We want them to enjoy this wonderful summertime activity safely.
Dr. Amy Kinkel
521-229-5846
4730 Village Plaza Loop #100
Eugene, OR 97401
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