American Academy of Pediatrics now agrees to enrolling children under the age of four to swimming lessons. Children below 1 year old were not recommended to still have the lessons since they still have motor or cognitive disabilities which poses them not to be ready for swimming classes. Just a few years ago, the group apalled the idea of letting the toddlers undergo swimming lessons as it gives the parents and their children a false sense of security.However, few studies showed that toddler would less likely drown if they had undergone swimming lessons. But still, the group does not also advice all children to undergo the classes.
According to AAP report, drowning is the second-leading cause of death for children ages 1-19. “Children need to learn to swim,”said in the report. They recommended a multilayered safety approach since even children who have advanced swimming skills can still drown. They also state that parents must learn how to perform Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation also known as CPR. The policy also reiterates the importance of a four sided fence around a pool that can cut the drowning risk by half. And they also warned against the use of inflatable swimming aids as these can easily lose air and “are not designed to keep swimmers safe”.
Keep the children safe for the summer season as people choose to go swimming to cool down.
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