CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Watching children being tossed into a swimming pool is tough.
But swim lessons are one of the key things parents can do to help a child save their own life one day.
"I turn my back, and she falls in the water. I know she knows what to do."
Water safety is being thrust into the spotlight after country singer Granger Smith lost his 3-year-old son, River. The boy drowned in a backyard swimming pool at his family's home.
"If your child does go missing, check the pool first because seconds count."
Atrium health pediatrician Dr. Todd Vedder said every year, North Carolina loses the equivalent of a preschool classroom of children to accidental drowning deaths. Nearly half are children between the ages of 1 and 4.
"These are children who have amazing physical skills. they can open doors, climb things, but they do lack the reasoning skills to understand the consequences of their actions," said Dr. Vedder.
It's not just the pool. There are bodies of water everywhere, and they're not all protected. That's why Dr. Vedder is teaching parents the ABC's of swimming safety.
- A: Adult supervision
- B: Barriers
- C: Classes
Swimming is one of the best things about summer, but it's also one of the most dangerous
"It only takes seconds for a child to drown. And you don't hear anything. There's no splash, there's no shout for help, there's a silent killer."