Don’t Scroll, Stay Safe: Summer Water Safety Tips Every Parent Needs

The PedsDocTalk Podcast

Dr. Mona Amin

Medicine, Health & Fitness, Kids & Family, Parenting

5 • 1.4K Ratings

🗓️ 9 July 2025

⏱️ 42 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

If you’ve ever assumed that being near your child at the pool meant they were safe, this episode might just change the way you see water forever. I’m joined by Lindsay Mondick, Director of Aquatic Safety for the YMCA of the USA and a lifelong advocate for drowning prevention. We talk about what drowning really looks like (spoiler: it’s not like the movies), why so many tragic incidents happen with adults present, and how something as simple as putting your phone down can be the difference between life and death. She joins me to discuss: • Why drowning is quick, silent, and often missed even with supervision nearby • The “Phones Down, Eyes Up” campaign and what every caregiver needs to know • How to build layers of water safety from swim lessons to life jackets to water watchers Whether you’re a pool regular, weekend beachgoer, or backyard splash pad fan—this conversation is a must-listen for every parent this summer. To connect with the YMCA follow them on Instagram @ymca; TikTok @ymcaofficiall; Facebook @TheY and YouTube @ymca. Learn more at Phonesdowneyesup.org We’d like to know who is listening! Please fill out our Listener Survey to help us improve the show and learn about you! 00:00 – 01:18 Why This Conversation Matters 01:19 – 02:37 Meet Lindsay: A Lifelong Water Safety Advocate 02:38 – 04:35 The Pandemic’s Impact on Drowning Risk 04:36 – 06:14 Why Proximity Isn’t Enough 06:15 – 08:32 Active Supervision: What It Looks Like 08:33 – 10:16 Are Lifeguards Enough? 10:17 – 12:14 Strong Swimmers Still Need Supervision 12:15 – 13:41 The Hidden Dangers of Lakes and Open Water 13:42 – 15:53 What Drowning Really Looks Like 15:54 – 19:55 The Power of Prevention and Real-Life Stories 19:56 – 22:31 Swim Lessons: How Early Is Too Early? 22:32 – 27:14 Teaching Adults to Swim (And Why It Matters) 27:15 – 30:07 Bridging the Gap in Underserved Communities 30:08 – 32:04 One Simple Habit That Can Save a Life 32:05 – 36:15 Minimizing Distraction Without Guilt 36:16 – 39:10 Final Thoughts + Taking Action Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and ⁠subscribe to PedsDocTalk⁠. Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠! And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the ⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠ page of the website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	A research study said that 68% of parents say that they were distracted by at least their smartphones at some point, right?
0:08.0	And 20% of parents said that this happened often and I can attest to that, right? Like, I'm a parent and I will say, right?
0:16.0	Like that that's happened to me. And so we, at the Y, we're just like, what can we do, right?
0:20.0	We know that we do swimming lessons really well. We provide access to communities, but how can we educate
0:26.2	parents about the importance of supervision? And then came along, you know, this idea,
0:30.6	phones down, eyes up to really have a national campaign to bring awareness to the fact that
0:35.9	we need to supervise our kids around water.
0:39.7	Hi, everyone, Dr. Mona here, your pediatrician and mom friend. And welcome back to the Pete's
0:44.2	Doc Talk podcast. Whether this is your first episode or your 100th, I'm so glad you're here.
0:48.4	And a gentle reminder to hit subscribe and download your favorite episodes so they're always
0:53.4	with you when you need them.
0:55.3	Today's episode is an important one, especially if you're spending more time around water this
0:59.2	summer. We're talking about drowning prevention and a powerful campaign called Phones Down, Eyes Up,
1:04.5	led by the YMCA of the United States. Now listen, I know these conversations can sometimes feel loaded.
1:10.5	Like we're being told don't use
1:11.6	puddle jumpers. Don't take your eyes off them for a second. Don't even glance at your phone.
1:16.0	And I'll be honest, I have friends who use puddle jumpers. I've been on my phone near my kids at the pool.
1:20.8	But for me, this isn't about perfection. It's about awareness and vigilance. It's about knowing
1:25.0	how quickly things can happen and how to build layers of
1:28.0	safety that actually work in real life. Joining me today is Lindsay Mondick, director of aquatic
1:33.1	safety at the YMCA, and we're having a grounded, real-world conversation about what active
1:37.9	supervision looks like, how to reduce distraction without guilt and how parents, no matter
	...

Transcript will be available on the free plan in 15 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Dr. Mona Amin, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Dr. Mona Amin and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.