
With drowning the leading cause of injury death in the U.S. for children ages one through four, the American Academy of Pediatrics released new guidelines recommending kids should start swimming lessons at the age of one.
Infants are most likely to drown in bathtubs or buckets while preschoolers are most at risk in swimming pools. “If they have any mode of transportation to get to a body of water, [children] are at risk of drowning or getting in trouble in water anyhow,” says Marci Harmon, a swimming instructor at Little Fins Swim School. “Any barrier or precaution we can take to help prevent...the chance of [drowning], the better off they are going to be.”
The report says educators like Harmon play an important role in the prevention of drowning as well as advocates and pediatricians. It also has a lot of recommendations and tips for parents.
The AAP says that while there is evidence swimming lessons may reduce the risk of drowning, “even the best swimming lessons cannot drown-proof a child,” so parents should always take caution.