Swimming in the Snow It finally started snowing here today but my mind is on swimming safety. Kids on the autism spectrum are not that different from their typical counterpart when it comes to water. I can remember as a young child driving my mom crazy as a pretended not to hear her shout "it is time to get out of the pool". I would dive under for the 10th last time not ever wanting to come up again. I enjoyed the quiet and solitude under the water and then the dynamic change from silence to chaos from the frolics of my swimming mates. I still enjoy the sense of freedom, weightlessness, and most kids with ASD like water and some dangerously are obsessed with water. Many parents tell stories about how their child is literally drawn to water and have no fear in whatever form it comes in. Raging waves, bubbling brooks or the deep end of the pool it doesn't matter. It is known that drowning is one of the leading causes of death in Autistic children nationwide. So with this in mind it is integral to teach water safety to all our kids - especially our special water lovers.
Did you know?
Children drown without a sound
Children can drown in 1 inch of water
Nearly 9 in 10 drowning-related deaths occurred while a child was being supervised
A child can drown in the toilet, water buckets and dog dishes
What you can do?
Swim lessons
Social Stories about water safety
Social Stories about the dangers of breathing in water
Perimeter fencing
Door alarm
Door locks
Visual cues on gates to pools
Visual schedule for getting in and out of pool
Coast Guard approved life jackets or swimsuit
Do not use floaties! Floaties can slip off or slowly lose their air and increase the chance of a child drowning.
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