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 increasing among children under 15. .
While there are countless water safety products on the market, it can be difficult for parents and caregivers to know which ones are effective.
In a TikTok video that has gone viral with more than 2.8 million views, a mother highlighted the confusion around purchasing life jackets for children. Due to search rankings and thousands of positive reviews, she said she accidentally bought a swim vest online.
Although the product was correctly labeled by the seller, this vest offered less protection and was not recommended by experts, unlike a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket, also known as a personal flotation device.
For example, searching for “toddler life vest” on Amazon returns 463 products. Of the five highest-rated items, only two are approved by the US Coast Guard.
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Amazon told ABC News that it requires third-party sellers of personal flotation devices to show U.S. Coast Guard approval documentation for all products.
“We have clear policies for the sale of these products by third-party sellers and are continually improving the search experience to provide the most useful results to customers,” the company said in a statement.
Dr. Sarah Denny, a professor of pediatrics at Ohio State University and lead author of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ “Technical Report on Drowning Prevention,” said children should only wear life jackets approved by the U.S. Coast Guard. .
“That’s the only life jacket they should put on their child,” Denny told ABC News.
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When choosing a life jacket to purchase, Denny said parents and caregivers should look for “U.S. Coast Guard Approved.” or “USCG Approved” in the product description.
Any life jacket used by a child must have a readily visible U.S. Coast Guard approval number printed on the inside of the life jacket. If the label is not easily found, the product is likely not approved by the US Coast Guard.
The U.S. Coast Guard has tips online on how to find an approved life jacket for different water activities. It is important to ensure that the life jacket is appropriate for the child’s current weight and chest size.
Denny warned against purchasing the next size up, thinking that a child will grow to a larger size.
“If a life jacket is too big, it can slide over the child’s head and then it is no longer effective,” Denny said, adding that parents and caregivers can look inside the life jacket for information to see if it is appropriate. for your son.
In addition to making sure the child wears a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket in the water, Denny said there are additional steps parents and caregivers should take when it comes to water safety.
Ultimately, it is essential to have multiple layers of protection for children around water to ensure their safety.
Here are seven of Denny’s tips.
1. Model safe behavior. Parents should use personal flotation devices along with children. “When we think about any type of injury prevention mechanism (like wearing a seat belt, wearing a bicycle helmet, wearing a life jacket) we know that children are much more likely to use those things if they see their parents using them.” too,” Denny said.
2. Avoid using water toys as safety equipment. Toys like floats, inflatables and noodles are intended for recreation and “have no safety components or features,” according to Denny.
3. Stay alert and close to children in or around water. Wearing a life jacket or having a lifeguard on duty does not replace the need for “constant and capable supervision,” according to Denny, who recommends that adults remain within arm’s reach whenever children are in or near the water.
4. Make sure your pool is fenced. A fence around a pool is the most effective and proven way to prevent drowning in young children, according to the AAP. The fence must be at least four feet high, non-climbable, have a self-closing and self-latching gate, and surround the entire pool, separating it from the house.
5. Enroll your child and yourself in swimming lessons. Swimming is “an important life skill,” Denny said, adding that everyone should know what to do if they ever fall over their head into the water.
6. Learn CPR. In the event of drowning, the American Heart Association emphasizes the need for “immediate, high-quality bystander CPR,” which improves survival. Denny said rapid and effective CPR also has a “strong impact on long-term outcomes after a drowning incident.”
7. Encourage children to wear bright colors when they are around water. Wearing a bright color (such as orange, red, pink, or yellow) on both swimsuits and life jackets could improve a child’s visibility in the water. According to Denny, although it has not been rigorously studied, this simple strategy can help rescuers more easily identify someone in the water.
Michelle March, MD, MPH, MEd is a researcher in general pediatrics at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and a member of the ABC News Medical Unit.
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