Health Tip: Teach Kids to Swim

To help reduce drowning risk

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(HealthDay News) -- For children aged 4 and older, one of the best ways to help prevent drowning is to teach them to swim.

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The Nemours Foundation offers these suggestions to help keep kids safe near water:

• Starting at about age 4, take your children to swimming lessons.
• For children younger than age 4, talk to a pediatrician who knows your child about whether swimming lessons are safe and a good idea.
• Always supervise children when they're near any water -- including the bathtub.
• When your child is swimming, make sure he or she wears an approved life vest. Choose one for young children that fits properly and offers support around the head and a strap between the legs.
• Don't trust an inflatable vest or arm "floaties" to protect your child from drowning.

-- Diana Kohnle