February 23, 2012 // Franchising.com // Summer is just around the corner, and that means pool parties and trips to beaches and lakes are just around the corner as well. As the pools and beaches begin to open up it's vital for parents to educate their children on how to stay safe in and around the water. Swimtastic Swim School is here to recommend vital water safety tips to help protect families and their children this swim season.
According to the National Drowning Prevention Alliance, drowning is the second leading cause of deaths due to unintentional injury for children in the United States. On average, roughly ten drownings occur every day; tragic incidents that could have been prevented if the proper preventative measures were taken. These statistics are extremely alarming and could be substantially reduced with the right education and by taking the necessary precautions.
Making sure children are always supervised is one key factor in keeping them safe. Never leave children unsupervised around the water, for any amount of time, no matter how shallow the water is. If children are going to be around pools, it is also important to take steps to ensure that kids can't access it by themselves. Installing gates and fences around pools, and locking doors to back patios are simple, effective, and essential steps that could save the lives of little ones!
An additional important consideration is getting CPR certified. The best case scenario is one will never be in a situation where CPR skills are needed. However, if an emergency does happen it is incredibly valuable to know proper CPR techniques. There is no worse feeling than being completely helpless in an emergency situation, especially involving a loved one, regardless of whether it's an infant or an adult.
Before children enter the water, they should be well informed of the importance of water safety. Take the time to educate them on how essential it is to read and obey the pool rules. Enforce rules such as, staying away from pool drains, watching for other swimmers, and always walking when around the pool (let children know the reasons why running around the pool can be very be dangerous). Prior to approaching any body of water, no matter how small, be sure to go over the reasons with any present children as to why following these safety tips are tremendously important to help keep them safe. Also make sure they are always enforcing the buddy system. Be sure that the children are well aware that they should never swim alone.
Above all, the best way to keep children safe in the water is for them to take swim lessons. Swim lessons have been proven to reduce the risk of drowning by 88%. Eighty-eight percent! Swimtastic Swim School, a member of the United States Swim School Association, recommends children begin swim lessons as young as six months old. An advantage of starting at six months, in addition to learning life-saving water safety techniques, is that it instills love and respect for the water early in life, helping to prevent children from developing a fear for the water as they begin to grow and mature. It truly is amazing, what kind of life-saving skills they learn in swim lessons, even as young as 6 months old.
Swimtastic Swim School, based in Waukesha, Wis., was founded in 1996 by child educator and swim expert, Susan Wainscott. Swimtastic, a leader in the learn-to-swim industry, has received numerous honors for its innovative curriculum, professionally trained teachers and child-friendly pool environment. Each year, thousands of children and adults learn to swim and gain the foundation of a lifetime- a love for water activities with Swimtastic. For more information visit www.swimtastic.com.
References
1. Layers of protection. (2009, January 21). Retrieved from http://ndpa.org/home/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8:layers-of-protection&catid=13&Itemid=18
2. Unintentional drowning: fact sheet. (2007). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/Water-Safety/waterinjuries-factsheet.html
Barrett Wainscott III
(262) 549-SWIM (7946)
BWainscott@Swimtastic.com
At Swimtastic, we understand swimming is a life skill so much that we have built a school focused on learning to swim.