As parents, our instincts drive us to comfort and protect. After a chilly swim, we wrap our children in towels—warm, snug, and seemingly safe. But according to certified swim coach Nikki Scarnati, this common act of care could have unexpectedly dangerous consequences.
Scarnati, a seasoned instructor and mother, has issued a warning that’s sparking both concern and curiosity among parents: never wrap a towel around your child’s shoulders after swim time. "I see it happening so many times, and I did it without realising for so long," she admitted.
The danger lies not in the towel itself but in the way it's used. Draping a towel over a child’s shoulders and arms, as most parents instinctively do, can immobilize their limbs. If that child were to accidentally fall into the water again—something that happens more often than many realize—those trapped arms could prevent them from self-rescuing.
“After you get them out of the pool, you should first dry their arms off and put the towel underneath their arms,” Scarnati advised. “This way, if they end up in the water they can still have access to their limbs to self-rescue, and they're that much safer”.
It's a simple change with life-saving potential. Scarnati demonstrated her technique in a video with her daughter, showing how to securely tuck the towel under the arms rather than over the shoulders. This method ensures freedom of movement—critical in an emergency.
The message has struck a nerve. One parent recounted a harrowing incident: “I stopped wrapping my kids at the shoulder after my son tripped up stairs and split his chin open because his arms were trapped instead of being able to catch himself as he fell,” he said. “Better to be cold than to rush to the ER for stitches”.
Another shared, “When I was two, I fell into the deep end of a pool with my towel on around my arms and I had to be rescued”.
Yet, not everyone agrees. Some argue that wrapping a towel under the arms could also pose risks—like restricting leg movement or causing the towel to slip off entirely. “I think the instructor’s way is actually more restricting,” one parent commented, expressing concern that a tucked towel might still wrap around the legs and drag a child down if soaked.
This debate underscores an important truth: safety doesn’t always come from what’s familiar. The natural parental urge to shield and swaddle must sometimes be questioned. While the advice may seem counterintuitive, Scarnati's call to reconsider how we wrap towels is rooted in practical experience and a desire to see fewer preventable tragedies.
So the next time your child emerges from the water, take a moment to rethink your routine. A minor adjustment could mean the difference between a mishap and a miracle.
As Scarnati put it plainly: “Thats right! Make sure your towel is UNDER your littles arms. NOT on top”.
It’s a small change—but it just might save a life.
Enjoying the article? Subscribe to GJW+ Premium to unlock award-winning drama, Three Stooges comedy, and powerful documentaries — and support this channel. Don’t miss out, this limited-time offer ends in two weeks. Start today!
