Virtual Open Water and Boating Safety Training

​FREE VIRTUAL OPEN WATER AND BOATING SAFETY TRAINING BY SAFE KIDS SOUTHERN TIER NEW YORK
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Safe Kids Southern Tier New York offers a short virtual training for children and parents on open water and boating safety. Children under 18 can pick up a free life jacket at Southern Tier Health Care System in Olean after completing this training. The training can be found at 2023 Open Water and Boating Safety Training Survey.

Virtual Training

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​Hard Facts about Drowning

• Drowning is the leading cause of injury-related death among children ages 1-4.
• And it's the third leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children 19 and under.
• In 2018, 918 children under the age of 19 drowned and more than 7,000 were seen in the emergency room.

Top Tips for Swimming Safety

1. Watch kids when they are in or around water. Keep young children and weak swimmers within arm’s reach of an adult. Make sure more experienced swimmers are with a partner every time.
2. Choose a Water Watcher. When there are several adults present, choose one to be responsible for watching children in or near the water for a certain period of time, such as 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, select another adult to be the Water Watcher.
3. Teach children how to swim. Every child is different, so enroll children in swim lessons when they are ready. Consider their age, development and how often they are around water.
4. Make sure kids learn these five water survival skills.
   • Step or jump into water over their head and return to the surface.
   • Turn around in the water and orient to safety.
   • Float or tread water.
   • Combine breathing with forward movement in the water.
   • Exit the water.
5. Teach children that swimming in open water is different from swimming in a pool. Be aware of situations that are unique to open water, such as limited visibility, depth, uneven surfaces, currents and undertow. These potential hazards can make swimming in open water more challenging than swimming in a pool.
6. Learn CPR and basic water rescue skills. It is important to know how to respond in an emergency without putting yourself at risk of drowning. Learning these skills may help you save a life.

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Top Tips for Boating Safety

1. Wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket when boating. Choose a life jacket that is right for your child’s weight and water activity.
2. Young kids are at a higher risk for hypothermia, so take extra precautions to keep them warm. If your children seem cold or are shivering, wrap them tightly in a dry blanket or towel.
3. I Learn basic water rescue skills and CPR. It is important to know how to respond in an emergency without putting yourself at risk of drowning.
4.  Follow the U.S. Coast Guard recommendations for boating safety. Learn about available boating resources, such as free vessel safety checks and boating safety courses.