Water Security Marketing campaign Will Make You Put Your Cellphone Down

Summer season will quickly be upon us, and with hotter climate and youngsters ending up faculty, many people are heading to the pool or seashore. With that in thoughts, and Might being Nationwide Water Security Month, the YMCA of the USA has launched a new marketing campaign round water security—and it’s focused at mother and father. 

The message is straightforward: “Telephones Down, Eyes Up.” It serves as such an important reminder (and never simply round water security both).

What ‘Telephones Down, Eyes Up’ Is All About

Drowning is the main reason behind loss of life for youngsters between the ages of 1 and 4, in accordance with the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC). And the Nationwide Drowning Prevention Alliance (NDPA) notes 50% of youngsters drown inside 25 yards of a mother or father or different grownup, with distraction being a key issue.

One of many foremost causes we take our eyes off kiddos in and across the water? Our telephones. “If that distraction occurs across the water, it might have severe, even deadly penalties,” says Lindsay Mondick, the director of aquatics technique and high quality practices for YMCA.

The “Telephones Down, Eyes Up” marketing campaign, which additionally features a pledge, urges mother and father and caregivers to place gadgets down and away whereas supervising youngsters in and across the water. 

Moreover, the marketing campaign endorses designating an grownup as a “water watcher,” with eyes on youngsters in and round water, fully distraction-free. Meaning no alcohol, no chatting, and no telephones.

Dad and mom might imagine they will rapidly reply to a textual content, create a procuring listing, or take a look at a social put up whereas supervising youngsters in water. However Mondick emphasizes that they should not. “Drowning is silent and may occur in as little as 30 seconds,” she says. “Drowning isn’t like it’s within the films.”

Meaning it is unlikely you’ll hear somebody struggling within the water, Mondick says.

“It’s essential to actively watch the water,” she provides. “When our cellphone is in entrance of us, we’re not seeing what’s occurring round us.”

That is additionally true of many actions that require parental supervision. “This message is a superb reminder for all elements of life, not simply round water,” Mondick affirms. “It is all about main by instance and fostering a extra current and engaged setting.”

Different Vital Water Security Reminders

Past placing down your cellphone and actively supervising youngsters, Mondick says different protecting measures round water to not overlook embrace:

• Correct limitations. “Limitations like fences and alarms are needed to assist stop drowning, particularly in younger kids, and could also be required by legislation in some states,” Mondick says.
• Water competency. Mondick recommends swim classes for youths as younger as 6 months of age, in addition to water security programs, which educate little ones what to do in the event that they unexpectedly discover themselves in water.
• Carrying life jackets. “The YMCA of the USA recommends non-swimmers put on U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets which can be designed to maintain an individual’s head above water in the event that they go unconscious,” says Mondick. Swimmies or arm floaties give mother and father a false sense of safety, and usually are not sufficient to stop drowning, she additional cautions, calling these “toys” and never a security gadget.
• Emergency preparation and planning. Mondick urges all mother and father and caregivers to take First Assist and CPR programs so they’re ready for an emergency.

“Educate kids to ask permission earlier than coming into or nearing the water,” Mondick additional advises mother and father. “This helps stop them from going into the water on their very own. Caregivers can reinforce this at residence, each time kids get within the bathtub.”

One other essential reminder about water security is that even kids who know swim can drown. “Not letting your guard down round older youngsters is a serious piece of water security that always will get ignored,” Mondick shares. Accidents can nonetheless occur—particularly in giant teams as a result of others assume another person is watching. 

Contemplate too that teenagers typically take dangers and ignore security guidelines on account of peer strain, so maintaining a tally of them within the water continues to be vital. 

In the end, Mondick desires households to have enjoyable this summer season, however with security high of thoughts—and with their telephones down, eyes up.