Lois Lee, MD, MPH, FAAP | (TNS) American Academy of Pediatrics When the weather’s nice, many families love spending time near the water. Whether your favorite spot is near the ocean or the edge of a river or lake, it’s always best to prepare for your surroundings and make sure that health hazards don’t spoil your good time. I encourage families to look for beaches where lifeguards are on duty and watch for any postings about water quality, rip currents or shore break, which can make swimming and water unsafe.
It’s always important to designate an adult as a water-watcher to keep an eye on children playing in or near the water at all times. You will also want to apply sunscreen every two hours at minimum or more often after children come out of the water. Here are 12 tips for families to enjoy a safe and fun outdoors experience for everyone: Check the water temperature.
Generally, water between 82 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit (28 to 30 Celsius) will be safe and comfortable for young swimmers. Scan the sand. Before spreading out your beach blanket, look for debris that may have washed up, including sharp sticks, bottles or even jellyfish.
Watch for sand holes. Making sandcastles and sculptures can be a blast. But the hole your child digs in the sand should never be deeper than their own knee.
Children can fall in and get trapped and buried in the sand. This can even lead to suffocation and death. Have kids dig where you can watch them—and don’t allow digging in sand du.
