It’s day three of my 2026 summer vacation. I cannot turn my brain off. I am thinking of my students on the daily and hoping they’re staying safe.
In my county , we’ve heard so much in the last couple months about water dangers. A handful of children have lost their lives. This is way too many. Drowning prevention is totally preventable.
Anytime we talked about water in my classroom this year, I would stop and lecture kids for a good five minutes. I told them they must always be with mommy and daddy if there’s ever water and they never ever can go near water by themselves.
I teach IND so the repetition is what matters. The danger factor is not understood. Students with types of special education needs seem to be drawn to water. Maybe it’s the glistening looks of it or maybe it’s calming.
Many places offer summer swim lessons at a discounted rate. Many private swim companies offer specialized swim classes for children with special needs.
Please, please, please, please find that money to send your children for swim lessons. It is the number one danger in the summer. Escape proof your home. Put locks for doors up high and out of reach. Alarm your doors for entry and exit. Place cameras around your home inside and out. Never take your eyes off your children even for a few seconds. Teach your children the water is for mommy or daddy and them always. If you need to step away from the water take your child with you. Remember children can drown in inches of water.
I remember back when my own children, who are typical, were growing up in my house. We had an above ground pool. I didn’t have to lock doors or have cameras or anything of that nature. We would get everything ready to go outside, including our water bottles, snacks, our sunscreen, our towels, our phones and we all stayed outside together. If one had to go in the house and needed help, we all went in the house and no one went back outside until we were already to go outside as a family again. Even as my children got older, in middle school, we had a room that overlooked our pool. I would be on that chair that overlooks the pool area the entire time they were out there. I didn’t read my book. I didn’t talk on the phone. I had a visual site on my children the entire time they were outside with the window open. I was close enough to get to them quickly.
The pool became a destination place for my children and their friends. Now I was not only responsible for keeping my children safe, but I had to keep their friends safe as well. There is absolutely no reason that drownings should occur. If you have a pool you need to know the danger exists. You need to prevent the danger from calling to your child. You need to teach pool safety when they’re very very little. You need to set up your home to prevent these tragedies from happening.
Finally, reach out to people in your community, in your circle, in your family if you need something in place to help keep your children safe. 🛟🌊