We’ve already had a number of snow days in Central Ohio this winter so it’s important for parents and children to talk about dangers when playing outside near frozen water. A few years ago nine-year-old Zachary Allen went to a friend’s house to play on a snow day. Zachary and his two friends were sledding in the backyard and walked onto a retention pond near their homes in a Powell neighborhood.
Despite previous conversations with his parents about not going near the pond, Zachary’s curiosity got them best of him and he followed the other children onto the ice where it appeared frozen. Tragically, he fell into the frigid water. Zachary was able tread water while he determined the best route out of the water and swim to the side of the pond. He also had the endurance and strength to swim 20 feet from the edge, breaking ice along the way, all while carrying the weight of his snow clothes saturated with frigid water.
The paramedics were called. Zachary’s mom Lindsey said, “the moment Zachary came home sobbing and saying he fell into the pond, I remember thinking to myself, I have to stay calm and get his clothes off of him. Don't panic. Don't scare him. As soon as he went upstairs I crumbled. I could not believe that he went onto the pond. I was distraught, terrified, angry and every emotion in between. It was the scariest moment of our lives.”
So often we talk about water safety when it comes to being at the pool or beach in the summer. And as parents, we assume that if we talk to our children about not going on a frozen pond, they never will.
Prepare your children with ways to get out of a situation if it were to occur: whether it be removing themselves from a peer pressure situation, or getting out of the water if their curiosity did get the best of them and they walked on the ice and fell through. Never go in after your friend. Immediately find an adult and call 911.
Zachary had been taking perpetual lessons at Goldfish Swim School for 30 minutes once a week for nine months. When he started swim lessons, he was a beginner in every sense of the word, and Zachary's lessons have given him confidence in the water, and he has learned key survival skills that, according to Lindsey, saved his life. For example, when Zachary fell into the pond he knew to look for the water’s edge where he came from, keep his head above water, kick his feet and tread water.
Winter water safety is a serious issue and we have a responsibility to create awareness to help keep kids safe when they play outside this winter. Retention ponds are everywhere these days. To kids they look like skating rinks, and what many people don’t realize is they are never safe to walk on. However, it’s important to talk to kids about what to do if they find themselves in a similar situation.
Winter Water Safety Tips for Parents:
1. Adult Supervision – A drowning child usually cannot cry or shout for help, so never turn your back on your child around water, including ice. Assign a Designated Watcher so there are never questions about which adult is responsible for watching the child.
2. Swim Lessons – As young as four months old, enroll children in swim lessons. Teach children water acclimation and aquatic survival skills designed to help them survive should they reach the water alone.
3. Stay off of Ice. Unless a lake or pond has been designated for skating and is certified for thickness and safety, don’t go out on the ice. Never walk on rivers or retention ponds. Conditions change ice thickness over night or between different parts of the water.
4. Have an Emergency Plan – Plan and practice what to do if someone falls through the ice. Call paramedics right away even if the child appears ok physically. Learn infant and child CPR. Keep rescue equipment, a phone and emergency numbers nearby.
5. Conversations with Caretakers and Kids – If your child goes to a friend’s house to play, ask the adult what kinds of activities they will engage in, and specifically, if they will be around water/ice, and make sure the children are supervised. When traveling to relatives’ and friends’ homes they may not understand the importance of keeping gates closed, doors locked, etc. Start a conversation with your kids about water safety and share tips with them about what to do if they fall into water.
For more information about Goldfish Swim School, please call 614-407-3474 or visit
https://www.goldfishswimschool.com/dublin/
