Taking the Kids: Keeping kids water safe on cruise ships over spring break

"Lifeguards aren't baby sitters," agreed Fisher. "They are there to enforce the rules and respond in an emergency." But, he added, drownings typically happen silently -- no cries for help -- in seconds. Having personnel trained in water personnel immediately at hand can mean the difference between life and death or someone being left with a long term disability.

Now attitudes about whether lifeguards are needed aboard ship are changing, according to Cruise Critic, the leading cruise information site with 5.5 million visitors a year. According to a Cruise Critic poll, 34 percent of cruisers now think cruise ships should have lifeguards. That's a 10 percent increase over the past four years, says Colleen McDaniel, senior executive editor. "Cruise lines have generally followed the same 'swim at your own risk' policy that many pools at hotels and resorts do, but we're hearing a number of cruisers praise Royal Caribbean's decision to introduce lifeguards, as it offers an extra layer of protection," she said.

The first layer of protection, of course, is constant adult supervision, part of The Circle of Drowning Prevention, according to the American Red Cross, that includes teaching kids to swim and insisting that inexperienced young swimmers wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets.

Royal Caribbean hopes to get that message across in its new program. "...You'll look so cool at the pool when wearing a safe and stylish vest," some of Royal Caribbean's new signs proclaim.

The experts stress that whenever you are at the pool or beach with kids, one of the adults needs to put down their phone, their drink, their tablet and keep their eyes trained on the kids. Don't turn around to talk to someone or grab a towel (that was the cause of one cruise line near drowning.) Let each adult take 20 minutes!

When should kids learn how to swim? First expose very young children to water in a fun and safe way, suggests the American Red Cross -- like parent-baby classes. The Red Cross Preschool Aquatics courses are specifically designed to meet the developmental needs of young children about 4 and 5 years old. The Learn-to-Swim program is intended for those 6 years and older (Visit redcross.org/takeaclass for programs in your area and download the free American Red Cross Swim App with kid-friendly games, videos and quizzes.

It doesn't hurt to play the "what if" game with the kids before the trip:

-- What if you start to panic in water that's too deep? "Think, so you don't sink," the Red Cross teaches kids. Roll over on their back, shout for help and make their way back to the pool exit or shore.

-- What if you see someone in trouble in the water? "Reach or throw, don't go," the American Red Cross says. Use the reaching or throwing equipment available around the pool, to help the person in trouble without putting yourself in danger.

Have fun -- and be safe!

========

(For more Taking the Kids, visit www.takingthekids.com and also follow "taking the kids" on www.twitter.com, where Eileen Ogintz welcomes your questions and comments.)