Drowning is the second most common cause of accidental death among children under the age of 15. Between 2007 and 2016, 127 people under the age of 24 drowned in Switzerland. The alarming thing is that 54 of these were young people aged between 10 and 24 who suddenly went under. In other words, young people who could actually swim, or at least should have been able to. This makes parents anxious, and so, as the head of a swimming school, I am often asked at what age a child can visit the swimming pool or lido on their own.
In this regard, three points seem worth considering:
- How well can my child swim?
- How responsible is my child?
- Who does my child want to go swimming with?
1. How well can my child swim?
Children should not go swimming on their own until they have passed the Water Safety Check (WSC) run by bfu, SLRG and swimsports.ch. To pass this test, the child must perform a roll into deep water without stopping, stay afloat in one spot for one minute and then swim 50 metres. This test assesses the key basic skills required for safe swimming: underwater orientation, diving, coordination, breathing, propulsion, endurance and strength.
Not every child is equally mature at the same age.
The aim is for all children to pass the WSC by the age of nine. It is also part of the swimming lessons under Curriculum 21. From the age of 12, your child can also take the SLRG Basic Pool certificate, and from the age of 14, the SLRG Plus Pool certificate and the Lake module. In my view, this is an extremely worthwhile initiative. I particularly recommend these swimming tests to adults as well.
2. How responsible is my child?
Just because your child has passed the WSC doesn't necessarily mean they feel ready to go to the swimming pool on their own. As a mother of three very different children, I know that not every child is equally mature at the same age. Whilst one child might still be very playful and dreamy at the age of ten, another child of the same age may already enjoy taking on responsibility and be very reliable.
The child should be familiar with the swimming pool, be able to find their way around on their own and feel at ease there. To make the transition easier, parents can start by staying in a different part of the pool area. This gives the children the space they need, whilst still allowing them to call their parents if necessary.
Explain the swimming rules to your child and discuss with them what to do in an emergency. Check whether there is a lifeguard on duty at the swimming pool or lake. Many swimming pools no longer have lifeguards on duty at all times, but only a bell to ring in an emergency.
I would only recommend unsupervised swimming in the lake from around the age of 15, provided you are a very strong swimmer, and always in the company of an adult.
3. Which friends does my child want to go swimming with?
When I think back to my time at the swimming pool without my parents, I can recall quite a few dangerous situations, such as pushing each other under the water, diving challenges, or jumping off the three-metre platform together. Talk to your child about such dangerous situations.
Prepare them for the fact that they may feel peer pressure, and reassure them that it's okay – and even brave – to say «no» to dares or risky stunts. Make sure you talk to your child about their experience after your visit to the swimming pool.
Important to know:
- The responsibility lies with the parents, not with the lifeguard. Even when children are at the swimming pool on their own, the parents are responsible and must fulfil their duty of supervision.
- There are cantonal swimming regulations that specify the minimum age at which a child is allowed to go to the swimming pool on their own. You can find the relevant regulations via Google by entering the name of the canton and the term «swimming regulations». In the city of Zurich, for example, children aged 10 and over are allowed to go to the swimming pool on their own. For privately run swimming pools, it is best to enquire directly.
