Water Safety

As you may have heard - water carries risks from bathtubs to puddles to ponds to pools. Water can be enticing. PALS - an acronym to teach children to 1. Get permission from parents, 2. Always buddy up, 3. Locate lifeguards & Life Jackets, S. Swimming Lessons.

Practice safeguards by alarming gates and pools, removing pool toys after use, practice swimming with clothes on, specify a specific person to watch a specific child for a specific period of time, talk about safety rules, read and write social stories, talk about weather conditions, know how to identify safe and dangerous areas to swim, educate neighbors , never swim alone and always ask permission.

People may gravitate towards water regardless of temperature. If lost, check water sources first as a fear of water does not always mean a fear of water.

Resources

Fun under the Sun for Everyone! 6 Inclusive Water-Safety Tops for Parents (2024). National Autism Awareness. https://nationalautismassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/PASSED.pdf

Swimming is Fun for Everyone: To Stay Safe in the Water, Always Remember your PALS (2024: National Autism Awareness. https://nationalautismassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/PALS-Water-Safety-for-Kids.pdf