Water is a necessary tool for your home. You use water to wash your clothes, to bathe, to flush toilets and for recreational purposes. While water can be a helpful tool, it can also be a dangerous and life-threatening element and should be treated with caution and respect. Teaching your children safety rules for water in the home and following those rules yourself can help keep you safe from water accidents.
Bath Safety
The water in the bathroom can be fun during bath time, but it can quickly turn lethal if you aren't watching carefully. When giving your child a bath, never be more than an arm's length away, cautions the Home Safety Council. Never leave other children in charge around the bath, and when not in use, the bathroom door should remain closed, with an outside lock if necessary. Remember that stationary bath seats are not a safety device, and you should never leave a child unattended in one in lieu of your supervision.
Pool Safety
If you have a pool outside your home your children should know how to properly behave while swimming. Your children should never swim without your direct supervision, says the Red Cross. If children are inexperienced swimmers, use a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket. The swimming pool should be encircled by a locking gate that only a parent can open. Always make sure you have appropriate life saving gear nearby, including life preservers, a first aid kit and emergency contact numbers nearby.
General Safety
Children can drown in less than 2 inches of water, according to KidsHealth.org, a division of the Nemours Foundation. Invest in safety devices that keep toilets locked. Remove any buckets that contain water and keep them away from children. Always supervise children around fish tanks and aquariums and place them high out of your child's reach. Drain any water immediately after you use it, recommends Safe Kids USA.
Education
Your family should have the proper education to deal with water hazards around the home. Besides basic first aid, take a CPR course through your local Red Cross. Learn what to look for and what to do in case of a water emergency. Children as young as 4 years old can take swimming lessons, says KidsHealth.org, and it's a good way to help them become comfortable around water. Talk to your children about water safety and institute home rules to keep them safe.
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