LITTLE ROCK (KTHV) — A child’s death is raising questions about what types of flotation devices are safe for children.
On Monday, a five-year-old boy from Mayflower died after officials believe he drowned in the Buffalo River.
Officials say the boy was wearing a float ring when he waded into shallow water, which quickly got deeper. His death leaves some parents wondering which devices are really safe for the water.
“A lot of kids can’t swim, they don’t know how dangerous the water is,” said Meosha.
When it comes to her 4-year-old daughter and the water, Little Rock mother of three, Meoesha, takes no chances.
“She’s got to listen, pay attention and make sure she has her protective gear on,” said Meosha.
While flotation devices are strongly encouraged at public pools in Little Rock, some popular ones, like water wings and tubes can actually do more harm than good.
“Parents see those as being safe, but if a kid gets excited or if they jump into shallow water or deep water and if their arms go up over their head, those inner tubes or water rings can easily slip off,” said Anne Fraley, Assistant Aquatic Specialist.
Safety experts say parents should use flotation devices that can be secured and aren’t inflatable, like a U.S. Coast Guard approved life vest.
“Those provide the most safety and floatability for children so they can’t flip onto their stomachs and can’t roll over,” said Fraley. “We also ask parents to be within arm’s reach of their child at all times; that just adds extra protection and makes sure nothing happens to the kiddos.”
Experts recommend parents not buy a larger size life jacket with the idea that their child will grow into it.
