Autism and Water Safety
By: Jessica Militich
Jessica wears a protective rash guard to snorkel Hanauma Bay. Despite having autism, Jessica understands water safety and frequently swims the ocean independently. Jessica also tells people when/where she is going to swim and phones them when she arrives home.
Summer is rapidly approaching along with beach destinations. As beach trips become more sought after to escape swelteringly humid summer, the need for water safety increases. That said, we live on an island where beaches are visited all year. Therefore, the need for water safety is paramount always. The goal of this issue is to address it because swimming peaks in summer and drowning is the leading cause of death for children with autism.
Part of why drowning is the biggest cause of death for children with autism is because water can be a sensory lure due to its unique feel. While seeking this sensory outlet, children may become distracted and not pay attention to dangers in the water. Likewise, they may enjoy being the water so much that they become oblivious to their own fatigue thereby increasing the chance of drowning. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways for all children to enjoy swimming. The dangerous scenarios mentioned above can be easily avoidable so long as the child’s parents or guardians know about the risks and are prepared ahead of time. There are many ideas and sources online about how to keep children with autism, or any child, safe around water. Some of the tips I learned are listed below.
Enroll in a Swim Class: This is a great way to proactively prevent drowning because most swim schools teach water safety and how a child can float on their back when fatigued in the water. Swim classes also a pre-expose children to water before taking them to a pool or beach. From the swim class’s exposure to water, both you and your child know how they react to water at pools or beaches. This may help you identify warning signs such as fear of water, eloping, sensory seeking, and carelessness before being in a more crowded swimming area. Above all else, swimming classes teach kids to swim! Knowing how to swim can be the best proactive approach to water safety because your child will already know how to be safe and maneuver in water.
Prime your child Ahead of Time: Tell your child about the body water you are visiting. Inform them about the potential dangers lurking at the beach or pool you are visiting. But also tell them how much fun they are going to have there! On the way to the destination, remind your child about water safety relevant to the beach/pool you plan to visit.
Make Rules and Enforce Them: This is a good way to proactively ensure your child’s safety so they know what is expected of them. Enforcing rules also gives parents a sense of authority and ability to prevent dangerous situations before they arise. Some of the best rules I’ve found online are in bullet point format below:
Children must ask permission to enter water
A child should not be the only person swimming
Children must not swim out of grownups line of sight
Children must not swim away from the lifeguards
Children should use the buddy system and swim with another child or adult
Children should point to where in the water they want to swim before entering it. In case of emergency, having a general idea of one’s location the on may increase the efficacy of search and rescue.
Social stories I found regarding water safety:
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/c4/29/1b/c4291b791309eeeb2d646371a246eacf--pool-rules-social-stories.jpg
http://rstaablog.blogspot.com/2017/06/water-safety-book-social-story-about.html
Other rules may include:
Don’t touch fish/turtles/marine animals/sea birds because they might bite you
Don’t touch or pick up floating trash because it is yucky
Be aware of man of wars (blue jellyfish) because they sting. If you see one immediately leave the water and tell an adult. Link to man of war picture: https://www.photoresourcehawaii.com/image/I0000dsIP1HTfXiA
Don’t step on corals because they are sharp
Respect the ‘aina. If you want to continue enjoying the beach throughout your life then you need to take care of it and respect the animals that live there now.
Don’t go out past a certain point (chest, waistline, shoulders, etc)
Exit the water if you feel hungry or tired. Maybe have your child exit the water once an hour in case they become fatigued but aren’t aware of it.
Fun things to do on the beaches shore:
https://ladyandtheblog.com/things-to-do-at-the-beach/
Sources:
https://www.autism360.com/news/the-ultimate-water-safety-guide-for-children-with-autism/
About the Author:
As a former lifeguard and swim instructor, Jessica Militich understands the importance of water safety and learning to swim. As a child, she had autism related challenges with putting her face in the water. Over time, through repeated acclimation, she became a proficient swimmer and snorkeler. In high school, she was on the swim team for a season and worked as a lifeguard and swim instructor for two and a half years. These days, she frequently snorkels all by herself but understands and respects the power of the ocean.
