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Summer water safety

Summer is finally here. Most of us are looking forward to long lazy days, backyard barbecues and swimming! Whether you go to a backyard or community pool, water park or lake, swimming is probably part of your summer plans.

Unfortunately, a small mistake in the water can quickly turn into disaster. Drowning is a real danger, especially for younger family members. For kids, drowning is the second most common cause of death from injuries. It is a quiet and silent killer that can happen fast. Less than two minutes after your child's head goes under the water, they can lose consciousness. Within four to six minutes, your child can suffer irreversible brain damage or even die. This leaves little time to get help.

Research shows that most drownings happen when a child falls into a pool. Still, drowning can happen anywhere - at a friend's house or even at home. Even though drowning is a real risk, more than half of parents report they don't worry about it. This statistic is scary considering 88 percent of kids who drown were under some form of supervision from a parent, relative or other caregiver.

So what can you do to make sure your kids stay safe this summer? Researchers at Safe Kids USA say that no single thing prevents a child from drowning. The best way for parents to keep their kids safe is to use a multi-point strategy. This includes active supervision, safe water environments, proper water gear and education.

Active supervision
Most parents say they supervise their children while swimming. But are you talking with friends, reading, eating or chatting on your cell phone while at the pool? If so, these behaviors may distract you enough so that you miss the moment when your child gets in trouble in the water. "Most emergencies I have seen could easily be prevented by simply watching your child in and around the water," says Yancy Sannan, a water safety instructor at the Pittsburgh YMCA. "Most guards prevent major emergencies from occurring...but a minor emergency can be prevented if parents are proactive in attending to their child."

Active supervision differs depending on your child's age. For kids younger than four or if your child can't swim, parents should always stay within an arm's reach. For older children, parents need to still stay close and keep constant visual and auditory contact with their child. There should be a designated adult watcher who is only focused on the children and not distracted by other adults, cell phones or activities. "When at a publicly guarded pool do not rely on the guards to babysit your children," says Sannan. "Though guards may be watching and monitoring the pool, you are ultimately responsible for your child. Water wings and inner tubes may allow you to be hands off, but you must always be eyes on!"

Safe water environments and water gear
Kids younger than four are most likely to drown at home. That's why parents need to make sure any home water areas are properly supervised or protected. If you have a home pool, make sure you also have four-sided fencing with self-closing and self-latching gates. Never prop open the gate or leave toys that will attract young children to the pool area. Home pools and spas also should have barriers like alarms, pool covers and locks.

Even if you don't have a home pool, your child can still get in trouble. A child can drown in as little as one inch of water. To prevent an accident, make sure you limit their access to water sources. Lock doors and toilets. Empty all buckets and wading pools as soon as you finish using them. And never leave your child alone in the bathtub for even a minute. That's all it takes for disaster to strike!

For kids ages five to fourteen, drowning is more likely to happen in open water like lakes and oceans. One of the most effective ways to prevent these accidents is by making sure your child wears a PDF or personal floatation device. Experts say that 97 percent of children who drowned in pools or open bodies of water were not wearing a PDF. Always make sure your child's PDF fits appropriately and he wears it for all water sports, boating or riding personal watercraft. While water wings and inner tubes are fun, parents should know they are not approved PDFs.

Perfect party planning

Summer's in full swing, and it's time to celebrate! From birthdays to barbeques, here are some ideas to help you pull off a perfect party.

Five rules for planning

Know your guests. First things first: know who will attend. Are kids invited? If so, will your party potentially conflict with naptimes for the youngest guests? What will keep each age group entertained? If it's for a child's birthday, are siblings allowed to come? Are parents invited or expected to stay? By anticipating your guests' needs, you'll make better choices about food and entertainment, too.

Know your ability. Even stay-at-home moms of just one child can get overwhelmed when it comes to planning parties. Banish the compulsion to go all-out and impress everyone. Direct that energy on making everyone feel comfortable and appreciated, instead. People remember how they're treated more than the treats.

Know your budget. Money's tight for everyone these days, so don't feel the need to dive into debt just to entertain.  Set your budget and stick to it. You'll be surprised at how creative you can get when you know your limits!

Communicate clearly. Don't just be prepared to answer questions: give answers before you're asked. Are kids invited? How should we dress? How long will the party last? Do we need to bring anything? If possible, include this information with your invite, verbal or written.

Give yourself time. Some get-togethers can be thrown together without much planning, but the more elaborate the affair, the more time even the most-prepared hostess will need.  
 
Invitations 101

Verbal invites are fine, but it's so much better to give written invitations! They not only make the recipient feel special, it adds value to the party, and all the information is easy to access. Consider online party-planning services like eVite.com, which allows your guests to respond online, ask questions and even sign up to bring things!

De-stressing mixers for mixed ages

Older kids are more autonomous, but young children require supervision. Allow adults to relax by sharing the load of childcare. During big bashes, set up a special spot for the younger kids to play, and let parents take turns overseeing them. If a handful of parents are game, the shifts need only last fifteen or twenty minutes.
 
Clean as you go

Don't stress over keeping things in perfect order, but check rooms for quick tidying once or twice during the party. If using disposable utensils, make throwing them away easy. Arrange trash cans from other rooms in the rooms that will be used, or prepare one large, easily accessed one.

Keep cleaning supplies handy. Spills will happen, so keep a bucket with paper towels, sponges, fabric cleaner and such at the ready. Put it in an easy-to-find place, so that if you're hands are full, someone else can find it without any confusion.