The Dangers Of Swimming With Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) For Children & Adults
Ready to hear an empowering perspective if you know and love someone with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)?
You’re not losing your mind or imagining things – it does take more energy and effort to think about dangers for seemingly everyday activities for your child. All that extra love, care, and attention you give your child better ensures their safety and overall well-being.
Safety is also a #1 priority at Potential, which is why it may be helpful to talk about swimming for children with ASD as they are 160 times more likely to drown than their neurotypical peers. This fact isn’t to scare you, but to point out how vital it is to be…
- Prepared for swimming activities
- Aware of your surroundings
- Able to ask questions
All in all, you’ll want to take precautions to ensure your child has a safe and fun swimming experience whether at the local pool, a birthday party, or the beach.
Want to further engage your child in programs rooted in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapies? Explore Potential’s ABA services for children.
Hazards & Safe Swimming Tips For Kids With ASD To Make The Most Out Of Summertime Activities
Did you know…?
70-80% of childhood drownings occur in backyard swimming pools.
For those with ASD who run the risk of “elopement” or wandering from their safe area, fundamental swimming lessons can help minimize potentially life-threatening situations like drowning, traffic accidents, or getting lost.
Wandering Risks
Caretakers of children and adults with autism must think more often about events like elopement, better known as wandering, and other dangers that neurotypical children don’t have to deal with as much. The best way to do this is by understanding what triggers elopement in your child.
Children who wander are most likely to experience sensory overload, wander to inspect a specific interest, or attempt to escape uncomfortable situations. If you have a child who’s an “escape artist”, you may use or want wandering support tools like:
- Safety lessons and practices
- GPS trackers
- Home security systems
- Advanced door-locking mechanisms
Even the local surroundings of a child or adult with autism can present serious challenges, especially if they decide to wander.
Sensory Processing Challenges
When someone with autism is overloaded with sensory challenges, this means they could be struggling to cope and communicate when experiencing any number of senses.
A few examples include a child with autism who may be triggered by…
Hypersensitivity To Sound
Fireworks, loud music, and even several people talking at the same time can result in sensory overload.
Tactile Discomfort
Many autistic children have an aversion to certain textures like thick frosting or the feel of sand. Physical contact like hugging, shoulder taps, and holding hands may also present sensory challenges. Water, however, is generally a positive experience for children with autism as it can feel soothing, cooling, and pleasant to the touch. This is also why the wandering risks around pools and other bodies of water should be taken seriously.
Visual Triggers
Bright and fluorescent lighting, as well as overly busy or crowded spaces, are also a challenge for many people with autism.
Olfactory (Sense Of Smell) Sensitivities
Strong, pleasant, and unwanted smells can cause a reaction in a child with autism. For example, you may notice your child negatively react to the smell of rubbing alcohol at a doctor’s appointment or chlorine in a pool. Whether a scent is pleasant or not can change the way an autistic child or adult reacts to the world around them.
Temperature-Related Aversions
Even slight temperature changes can cause a strong reaction in someone with ASD. This may not be a huge problem for pools with regulated temperatures. However, lakes, oceans, rivers, and other bodies of water are unpredictable.
Many times, there’s simply too much going on at once and it can feel rapidly overwhelming for someone with ASD who has one or multiple sensory triggers.
Context & Communication Matter
Teach your child and other family members about knowing and understanding the potential dangers associated with children with ASD and water safety. Part of your personal safety plan means tailoring lessons taught with elements that can change depending on certain characteristics.
There’s much more to consider when comparing a clear sunny day at the pool to a drizzly day at the local state park. You will want to consider various conditions like:
- Cold or hot outside
- Dark, too bright, or overcast
- Not currently safe to swim
- Lifeguard on duty vs. swim at your own risk
Children with ASD are less likely to recognize danger. Alleviate your fears by figuring out where you’ll be and what possible challenges you may need to address beforehand.
A few things not to do for your child with autism when swimming:
- Assume an iPad or other device is keeping them engaged
- Leave them unattended in or near water
- Forget about their way of thinking
Break it down to your child’s level, then teach and repeat phrases like…
When I go swimming, it’s hot, the sun is out, and my mom is with me.
I stay safe in the pool by staying on the steps or practicing swimming with a lifeguard.
I stay safe in the pool by going with an adult I know and trust.
When I go swimming and I am thirsty, I don’t drink pool, lake, or ocean water. I will ask my mom or dad for clean water to drink.
Understanding your child’s behaviors and ways of thinking makes it easier to put best practices in action to keep them safe.
Learn more about educational services rooted in ABA practices for your child.
3 Tips For Safer Swimming Habits In The Summer & Beyond
A few best practices to assure your child’s safety this summer include:
1. Develop A Safety Plan
Create a safety plan that includes what to look out for and what to do if your autistic child were to wander without you knowing. Include in-case-of-emergency contact information for your area.
2. Communicate The Plan
After you’ve developed a plan, talk through it with the rest of your family or friends in case it’s ever needed. Be sure they understand what to do and keep your step-by-step plan visible and within reach of everyone living or working in your home.
3. Teach Visual Cues
If possible, teach visual cues through pictures, symbols, or photos of people, locations, and common items to help your child better understand what they should or shouldn’t do near any body of water.
Teaching Children With ASD How To Swim Is Key To Their Safety
Implementing lifestyle changes to prevent swimming-related accidents is only the tip of the iceberg. And many people want to know, “When is the right time to teach my autistic child to swim?”
The best answer is as soon as possible! Even if your baby is still a baby (less than 1 year old), you have options to teach them how to swim and navigate future water-related challenges early. Look into and share information about ASD with your community and support organizations focused on ASD and water safety.
If you’re looking for swimming safety and other tools to assist you and your child with ASD? Check out some of the following:
Swim Angelfish offers programs for swimmers looking for adaptive swim lessons or aquatic therapy.
AngelSense devices for children and adults with ASD utilize GPS technology for tracking with assistive speakerphone, live monitoring, and proactive alerting.
YMCA of Bucks and Hunterdon Counties, Sunsational Swim School, and the British Swim School of Greater Philadelphia offer special needs swim lessons and similar programs.
Autism awareness among educators, law enforcement, and the general public can go a long way to reduce accidents all year round. Before making big plans this summer, break down classic summertime staples like swimming to ensure everyone is safe and having a good time – at all times.
Explore comprehensive ABA services with the Potential team.
Potential Inc. is not affiliated with any of the organizations mentioned above.