YORK, Pa. — There are a few key things parents must be aware of when taking children swimming.
Dr. Vinitha Moopen with WellSpan Health has some tips on how to keep kids safe during swimming season.
Starting swim lessons as early as possible is imperative, Dr. Moopen said.
"You want to have the kids at least know safety and how to keep themselves afloat while they're in any body of water," she continued. "That would be the key, is not to depend on floaties or those bubble things. Just have them learn that as soon as they can."
Kids aren't only at risk of drowning while they're actively swimming, either. Dry drowning can occur whenever children inhale water through their nose or mouth, causing their vocal chords to collapse and preventing air from reaching the lungs.
"The thing to remember is that it can happen for hours after the event," Dr. Moopen said.
"It can be a slow process. Sometimes you see the effects immediately, but sometimes it takes up to 24 hours to see the effects."
She recommends taking children exhibiting symptoms of dry drowning to the emergency room, not to their pediatrician.
Another risk that comes with spending time in the water is swimmer's ear. This infection can be prevented by wearing earplugs or a swim cap that covers the ears while in the water. Dr. Moopen says the main symptoms of swimmer's ear include pain and discharge from the ear.
While the risks can be scary, Dr. Moopen has some good news for kids itching to get in the water: they don't need to wait the customary 30 minutes after eating to swim.
"We followed that because it's what our moms said," Dr. Moopen laughed. "But it's not scientifically proven."
Dr. Moopen says concerned parents can always talk to their doctors, nurses and pediatricians about any worries they may have for their child. If your kid needs to be seen by a doctor, click here to make an appointment with WellSpan.