It seems like such a quick moment to respond to a text, answer a work email, or make a quick grocery list, but quick actions can quickly become major distractions. And distractions around the water can have major consequences. In fact, 88% of child drownings occur with at least one adult present.
“People think they’ll hear someone if they’re struggling in the water, because that’s what we see in tv and movies,” says Meagan Matrejek, Aquatics Compliance Program Executive at YMCA of the North. “In reality, drowning is silent and can happen in as little as 30 seconds. When we’re looking at our phones, we don’t see what’s happening around us.”
The YMCA has launched a water safety campaign—Phones Down, Eyes Up™—in order to draw attention to this safety issue and encourage parents and caregivers to put phones and tablets away when monitoring children in and around the water. The YMCA of the North is asking families to visit PhonesDownEyesUp.org to take the water safety pledge, indicating you will put away your phones when around the water this summer. Families who take the pledge will also have access to educational tools, including a reminder wallpaper for their phones, monthly newsletters with water safety tips, and downloadable lanyard to signify their role as Water Watchers.
“At the YMCA of the North, we encourage adults to designate a Water Watcher when children are in or near the water,” explains Matrejek. Water Watchers are adults whose role is to watch the water—undistracted by phones, books, conversations, or alcohol. “We know how easily distractions can happen around water, but just one moment of inattention can have serious consequences. YMCA of the North is committed to empowering families with the tools and information they need to stay safe around water.”
To learn more, visit www.phonesdowneyesup.org or get registered for Swim Safety Lessons at the Y.