Swim Safe + Beach Toys
Swim Safe
This summer, help your child stay safe and have fun at the beach or pool.
Did you know nearly 30 per cent of all deaths of children between one and four years old are from drowning? Together Family talked to Bob Lyons, safety expert behind the Safety Turtle alarm system, to find out how your family can stay safe at the beach and in the pool.
- Require adult supervision in or around the pool or the water at all times.
- Know how to swim, about water safety and how to perform CPR.
- Teach your child how to swim and about water safety early in life.
- Make your child wear a life jacket while boating, fishing, wading, swimming or playing near the water.
- Don’t use air-filled or foam toys, such as “water wings” or “noodles,” in place of life jackets.
- Remove toys from the pool and surrounding area after use.
- Remember that supervision can and does fail, and drowning is fast and silent
- Manage Risk using “Layers of Protection”, both a barrier to prevent access and a pool alarm to warn of water entry
WHO’S AT RISK?
- Infants – drown mainly in bathtubs.
- Young Children – drown mainly in pools
- Males – From age two, males are increasingly more likely than females to drown.
BEACH TOYS
Turtle Power
The Safety Turtle line of water safety products helps keep your child safe in the pool. A wireless door system prevents kids from wandering into your backyard pool, while an immersion alarm alerts you when your child has been underwater too long. $270 (for system with wristband), available at Canadian Tire and Club Piscine.
Castles in the Sand
Kids and parents will love this pro sand sculpting kit, which comes with a bucket and form set, a set of sand tools, sand sculptors brush, and even a how-to DVD for inspiration. Sand Tools, $14.99 US, and Super Deluxe Sand Sculpting kit, $34.99 US, canyoudigit.com
Beach Chic on the Cheap
Old Navy has a great selection of colourful, fun pool and beach toys for kids that won’t break your budget. While you’re there, don’t forget to pick up a cute tote to carry them in too. Soccer Ball, $8.50, Net Tote, $5.00, and Animal Arm floaters, $6.50, all from Old Navy.
Dig it
We love these durable sand toys from Canadian educational toy company, Mastermind. Help your kids make sand ice-cream cones, or make fun patterns on the shore with easy-to-handle sand claws. Gowi Sand Toy Ice Cream Set, $8.95, and Gowi Sand Claws, $5.95, both from mastermindtoys.com.
