Water Safety While Travelling for the Holidays

Water Safety While Traveling for the Holidays

As we look toward the holiday season, we usually think about reuniting with family and celebrating annual traditions. The 2021 holiday travel season is predicted to rebound from the slump after the summer travel season. “As families are planning holiday travel, it’s important to keep water safety at the forefront,” explains Adam Katchmarchi, Ph.D., executive director with the National Drowning Prevention Alliance.

“Drowning is often thought of as a summer topic, however, it presents a year-round problem, especially when traveling,” he says. “Drowning is a leading cause of unintentional death for children and young adults.”

Drownings are best prevented using the concept of “layers of protection”. This is a water safety strategy that utilizes multiple prevention steps to reduce risk around water. Layers include swimming and water safety training, constant active supervision by guardians, swimming in a lifeguarded area, the use of barriers (fencing) and alarms, using tested and approved floatation devices, and being prepared to respond to an accident. “One layer alone is not enough to prevent drowning, as layers can fail. Only the use of multiple layers of protection decreases the risk of accidents around water,” says Katchmarchi.

“We often encourage parents and pool owners to think about layers of protection around their home and in commonly visited areas,” he says. “However, when traveling, we can often overlook these important safety steps. The same risks that water presents in your backyard, exist while you are on the road.”

Parents and caregivers are encouraged to think about these safety steps when traveling:

Plan Ahead. First and foremost, think about promoting knowledge and skill within your family about water and response. Whether you’re traveling or having a staycation, make sure everyone is water competent (attaining basic aquatic skills), knows how to help in a water emergency, and knows basic CPR and first aid skills.

It is also important to call ahead to where you are staying to find out if there is access to water and what layers of protection are already in use. Choosing a hotel with physical barriers and lifeguards at the pool can reduce risk. Think out your water safety plan before you leave.

Safety Chat. Discuss your water safety plan with your family before you leave. Setting ground rules and covering simple water safety steps with your children can make all the difference. It is important to enforce the rules and ensure other safety steps have been taken, but don’t underestimate the value and importance of the safety discussion. There are a number of water safety storybooks available for children that discuss basic water safety rules.

Safety First. When you arrive at your destination, take time to do an evaluation of all water features and understand the layers of protections that are in place. Pay key attention to physical barriers and ensure all layers are in good working order. Walk