Drowning is the leading cause of death among children ages 1 to 4 in the United States, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, which released data this month showing that drownings are on the rise among kids under the age of 15.
While there are countless water safety products on the market, it can be hard for parents and caregivers to know which ones are effective. In a TikTok video that has gone viral with over 2.8 million views, one mom highlighted the confusion around buying life jackets for kids.
Due to search rank and thousands of positive reviews, she said she accidentally bought a swim vest online. Although the product was properly labeled by the seller, this vest offered less protection and wasn't recommended by experts -- unlike a U.S.
Coast Guard-approved life jacket, also known as a personal flotation device. For example, searching "toddler life jacket" on Amazon reveals 463 products. Of the top five-rated items, only two are approved by the U.
S. Coast Guard. SEE ALSO: Expert hydration tips to stay cool amid sweltering heat this summer Amazon told ABC News that it requires third-party sellers of personal flotation devices to show documentation of U.
S. Coast Guard approval for all products. "We have clear policies in place for the sale of these products by third-party sellers, and we're continually improving the search experience to provide the most helpful results to customers," the company said in a statement.
Dr. Sarah Denny, a professor of ped.
