Protect Your Autistic Child from Drowning

Kids with autism are drawn to water, but they have a lack of awareness of the dangers that come with it. Many autistic children drown when they wander away from their homes and into a retention pond, lake or pool.

Drowning is the leading cause of death among autistic children. Complicating the danger is that most children who drown are age 4 and younger, but the average age of diagnosing a child with autism is 4-1/2 years old. In many drownings, the children were exhibiting symptoms of being autistic but were not officially diagnosed yet. For autistic children older than 4 years old, the risk is just as great when wandering still is a concern.

Preventing Drowning

The best way to prevent kids with autism from drowning is by incorporating multiple layers of protection. They should include:

• Actively supervise. This is the first and most important layer of protection. Don’t get distracted by your cell phone, other children, family or friends when your child is in or near water. Never assume someone else is keeping an eye on your child because drowning can occur in less than 30 seconds.
• Be on alert for wandering. Be the last person to ensure all children are accounted for and that doors are locked once you come back from swimming. If you leave your child with family and friends, communicate that wandering can occur so they should be alert at all times. Be mindful of who you leave your child with; they may underestimate the mind of a child who wanders.
• Install barriers. Having multiple barriers in place -- whether or not you have a pool in the back yard -- is another important layer. Installing high door locks or door latches will help reduce wandering. Door alarms or chimes can alert caregivers if a child leaves the home, but they are not enough. Locks and latches keep kids inside your home. They should be installed at every entry or exit point. Stop signs on all these doors can help remind family and friends of the importance of checking and using the locks and latches.
• Secure your pool. If you have a pool, there should be a fence around it with a self-latching gate and pool motion alarms to alert you if someone falls into the pool. These are essential because there will be times you cannot be with your child for a few minutes, such as when you need to go to the bathroom, and that’s enough time for a drowning to happen.

Swim Lessons

Swim lessons are important for all children, including those with autism. Don’t assume that your child cannot learn to swim, but you may need to start slow and be mindful of their reactions.

Introduce water experiences to your child in a safe way. Start by sitting with them on the edge of the pool and hanging out around the steps. Discover what your child enjoys while in the pool, such as splashing or jumping.

Once they feel comfortable in and around the pool, seek out a swim instructor who has experience with children who are autistic. If your child is easily distracted or doesn’t like loud noises, choose one-on-one swim lessons or classes during a less busy time at the pool.

Finally, people with autism often have poor generalization skills. They may display swimming skills in one pool but not in another. Have your child spend time in different bodies of water to make sure they have the skills to stay alive. You can reinforce concepts by creating visuals of the pool and the basics of swimming to review with your child at home.

This content is not AI generated.