Fishing Trip Safety for Children

How to Keep Kids Safe While They Fish

Jul 11, 2009 Charlina Stewart

Fishing is a fun way to bond with the kids and help them become lovers of nature. But in the midst of bonding, one must also take steps to keep kids safe while they fish.

Wide open space, the sound of rushing water, and the beauty of nature all around – there’s no better way to spend the day connecting with one’s children than by sharing the joy of fishing with them. And when parents go that extra mile to put fishing trip safety for children first, the end result is a fun-filled, disaster-free fishing experience for everyone.

Take a CPR Trained Adult Along

Ambulance arrival times differ depending on a number of variables such as location, weather conditions, and availability. Sometimes medical help will arrive on the scene almost immediately, while other times, it can take several minutes for medics to reach a victim. The quicker one obtains medical attention for a child who has been submerged underwater, the greater the likelihood of survival. So an adult who knows cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) should accompany small children on fishing trips just in case of an emergency.

Provide Kids with Life Jacket

The lure of the water combined with the curious nature of a child can be dangerous if parents aren’t diligent about fishing trip safety. A child-sized life vest can potentially save a kid's life by helping him stay afloat if he accidentally tumbles into the water. Not requiring a child to wear a life jacket during a fishing a trip is not worth the risk of him drowning, or suffering irreversible brain damage as a result of underwater submersion.

Pack a Basic First Aid Kit

Young children are accident prone. And one never knows when or how kids are going to get scrapes and cuts, so parents should be prepared for anything. A basic first aid kit allows immediate treatment of minor injuries, and lessens the likelihood of wounds becoming infected. A basic first aid kit for a fishing trip should contain the following:

• various size bandages
• sanitizing gel
• small hand soap
• small bottle of water (for rinsing wounds)
• safety scissors
• adhesive tape
• gauge
• alcohol swabs
• antibiotic ointment
• artificial cold pack
• cell phone

Protect Children’s Skin and Eyes From the Sun

Overexposure to ultraviolet rays makes kids more vulnerable to skin cancer, and eye diseases such as glaucoma and cataracts when they become adults. So to protect a child's delicate skin from the sun during fishing trips apply sunscreen liberally to exposed areas, and provide a wide brimmed hat and a pair of wraparound sunglasses to protect a youngster's face and eyes.

Keep Kids Properly Hydrated

The human body is made up of more than 60% water, as it is an essential element for every organ in the body to function properly. So provide kids with plenty of water to help them stay hydrated. Never use soft drinks and tea as a substitute for water, as these drinks contain caffeine and increase a child’s chances of becoming dehydrated.

Providing life jackets, being CPR prepared, packing a basic first aid kit, protecting kids from the sun, and providing plenty of water can make a family fishing trip fun, and free from tragedy.

The copyright of the article Fishing Trip Safety for Children in Early Childhood is owned by Charlina Stewart. Permission to republish Fishing Trip Safety for Children in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Fishing With Kids