This blog post was originally published in 2021 for host families and au pairs of Au Pair In America

Yay! It’s summer!  That means backyard barbeques, pool parties, lake days, and trips to the beach are here.  And while water can be so much fun,  water is also dangerous.  

DId you know that drowning is the number 1 cause of accidental death for children under 5 and a leading cause for ages 1-14?  Drowning is FAST AND SILENT. Drowning happens to all types of families and in all kinds of water- bath tubs, pools, lakes, ponds, rivers, beaches and even buckets and toilets.  The good news is that drowning is PREVENTABLE.  

Colin’s Hope, a trusted water safety organization, asks you to take a few minutes and do these simple things that will keep your family safer around water. We do not want you  to lose a loved one, as we lost Colin,  to a preventable drowning.

1.  LEARN ABOUT WATER SAFETY : Visit the Colin’s Hope website to find water safety tips, resources and games. Take the Colin’s Hope Water Safety Quiz and the Parent & Caregiver Water Safety Course 
2. TALK ABOUT WATER SAFETY.  Talk to all of the caregivers in your family and your children of all ages about water safety. Play water safety games and create water safety rules for your family.  GET and READ the Colin & Friends WAIT FOR A GROWN UP book and have a water safety storytime.
3. PRACTICE WATER SAFETY. Always appoint an undistracted adult (A WATER GUARDIAN) to watch kids around water and use a Water Guardian Badge so you can tell who is on duty.  Wear properly fitted and fastened U.S. Coast Guard approved life jackets when on boats and around open water.
4. PREVENT DROWNING.  When we learn about, talk about and practice water safety, we can prevent drowning.

Colin’s Hope is here to help. Please reach out to us and please share this life saving information with family and friends. Together,  we can save so many lives. 

In the words of Colin Holst–Have the Best Day Ever!

Alissa Magurm

Colin’s Hope Executive Director, Mom and Lover of Water